Selecting Books For Your Child
Sharing books with your child is one of the best gifts you can give them. It is often said that parents making time to read with their children demonstrates that reading is important, pleasurable and valued and children who are read to will be more likely to develop a love of reading.
Studies show that children who are read to from an early age are more likely to achieve academic success. Storytime familiarizes children with the printed word and helps develop cognitive and literacy skills such as problem solving, vocabulary development and storytelling comprehension. Books fuel your child’s curiosity and build upon their knowledge and understanding of the world. The loveliest thing about reading with your child, however, is that it strengthens the bond between parent and child.
We know there are many reasons why we should read to children, but the question many parents ask is ‘What should I read?”. Ideally, children should be exposed to a variety of texts. There are certainly fiction and non-fiction books written to appeal to every age group, however, if your child insists on hearing a favourite story again and again, there are benefits to this too.
If you are looking for new books to introduce to your child, here are some hints that may help:
• Ask your child’s Lorna Whiston teacher what books they have responded enthusiastically too in class. Children’s authors are often prolific and you should be able to find other books they have written
• Make regular trips to the library and demonstrate your own enthusiasm for book borrowing. You are your child’s most influential role model. Look for books by authors or illustrators you and your child have appreciated
• Specialist children’s bookstores such as Singapore’s ‘Woods in the Books’ will offer expert advice
• Good online bookstores have search facilities that will suggest books relating to your child’s interests and appropriate to their age
• Check out children’s book awards such as the Caldecott Medal online.
• Literature magazines for children such as ‘Cricket’ and its variations can be an excellent introduction to new authors
By Amy Hutton - English Enrichment Teacher
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Over the past fifteen years, Amy has taught in Australia, England, Japan, and for nine of those years, in beautiful Singapore. She is passionate about teaching and inspiring young children to love language and learning. Amy enjoys the creative challenge of bringing lessons alive for her students and the rewards of seeing their confidence and abilities grow.