As we are heading into the holiday season, when we all get a much needed break to spend quality time with our families and children, I wanted to remind you that reading to your children is not only a great way of modeling the importance of reading for pleasure, but it is also a wonderful bonding experience for the whole family. I see it daily…kids love books. Books allow the doors to their imaginations to be swung wide open – nothing else can do this quite like a great book.
It really is a gift to be read a story aloud – and it’s free! ☺
Reading for pleasure (fiction or non-fiction) is also the most effective way to build reading skills, intelligence, empathy, vocabulary and overall comprehension skills. The results cross all curriculums – reading for pleasure will help children in all subject areas and more importantly, instill in them a love of literature and create lifelong learners.
When a child finds that one book they love, it changes everything – a reluctant reader can become a keen reader in an instant. In the library, I make it my mission to seek out a wide variety of books and get them into our students’ hands. Every person can love reading for pleasure – it’s well worth the little bit of effort to get them there.
Although libraries are hugely important, the most powerful place for children to learn is at home. Encourage them to read whatever interests them, make frequent trips the public or school library, create opportunities to read (turning off the TV, phone, computer), read stories aloud often and most importantly, let them see you enjoying a book!
Happy reading,
Sarah McLaughlin
Teacher Librarian