Why is Reading to My Child
So Important?
As a speech-language pathologist, I see the strong relationship between speech, language and reading. Having good language skills will help your child build good reading and writing skills. Reading with your baby and your toddlers is a good way for parents to prevent potential speech and language difficulties.
Throughout the toddler years, children progress in their ability to communicate by babbling, saying words and continuing to expand their vocabulary. Their language skills continue to develop rapidly in the preschool years. As children are able to use more and more words and use more complex sentences, their literacy skills start to emerge.
In the literature that I’m reading, the importance of developing “preliteracy” abilities during the preschool years is often highlighted. These abilities include the ability to speak well, to identify and compare sounds (e.g., child knows that the sound “ssss” is in the word “sun”; child knows that “fun” and “sun” rhyme) and their familiarity with a wide variety of written material (e.g., child recognizes the “MacDonald’s” sign, the “Stop” sign, etc…). The first skill helps beginning readers to understand what they have read, while the second and third skills help them “decode” words. Both, being able to understand and to decode are important skills in becoming a good reader and writer.
What can I do to help my child learn to read?
There are easy things you can do every day:
- Read books to your child every day
- Enjoy the moment. Babies like the feeling of closeness when a parent or grandparent reads to them. When a child finds out that reading with a loving adult can be a warm, happy experience, they begin to build a lifelong love of reading.
- Make sharing books fun. Choose a good time to read when you and your child are relaxed and happy. Point to pictures. Talk about them in an excited voice. Notice what your child looks at and then talk about it.
- Read signs with your child when out walking or driving.
- Play word games – rhyming and other sound play games (e.g., reciting nursery rhymes, poems, stories with a lot of rhyming).
- Read yourself. You are an important role model!
We all want the best for our child. By making sure that you help our child develop strong language skills and nurture his development in the preschool years, you will help him move ahead with his learning and his life!
Early identification of speech and language difficulties is crucial!
If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development contact the Preschool Speech and Language Program located at the Porcupine Health Unit at 705-267-1181 or call the toll free number 1-877-442-1212 extension 11.