Blog #7  No App Can Replace Your Lap

By Diane Davies

Reading together encourages a thirst for knowledge

There is nothing better than seeing a child that loves to learn.  So how do you make that happen as a parent?  There are a number of things you can do and the first is to read to your children.  Reading leads to questions from the child and the questions present a real learning opportunity.   Here are a few more devices to try:  (BILINGUAL KIDSPOT)

·      Create a bedtime reading routine where you read every night to your children

·      Read WITH your child not TO your child.  Talk about the pictures, ask questions, make comparisons to familiar things in the home.

·      Let them skip pages.

·      Keep a variety of books in your home.

·      Let them choose the books they want to read.

·      Do activities together involving the books you read.

·      Don’t push children to learn to read – read for the ENJOYMENT of reading together.

·      Be a good example and read books yourself.

·      Visit the library together.

·      Limit technology.

As a first grade teacher many times around the holidays parents would stop by and ask me what I thought about this set of reading tapes or this digital app costing hundreds of dollars where the child could sit in front of a screen and learn to read.  My reply was always to take the money and invest it in real books the child can hold, and smell and sit in your lap and be read to by YOU.  Your investment of TIME doing this is the best investment you can make.

I’m taking off a few days BUT will be back December 12, Don’t forget to come back to No App For Your Lap then. Blessings for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Happy Reading!