Does Your Child Like to Read?

Most kids like to read for fun. That is a fact! Then why don't we see them doing it more or bugging us to take them to the library to check out MORE books?There are three obstacles that prevent them from taking full advantage of their love for reading.The first is that young children like to be read to. When they come to a word that stumps them, they often give up trying anymore and want mom or dad to read it to them instead of trying to read on their own. What is the answer? Try books on CD-ROM that kids can read by themselves and listen to the narrator while the animation and any interactive games pull them deeper into the material. When children have books that are interactive, they feel like they are playing. They can also go at their own pace so they are not rushed and feel more like reading by themselves. Here is a great place to find these: SoftwareForKids -Children Educational Software, Kid Games .

The second obstacle is that a child is afraid they won't be able to finish the books they start. A beginning reader usually has interests and is smarter than the level they are able to read at. Sometimes, this dampens school-age kids from moving onto higher-level reading material that they may enjoy more. How to solve? Expose your child to audio books. Children can listen to a little more advanced story without having to worry about reading the more difficult words. Even though you may think that listening is easier than reading, it has been proven that audiobooks build vocabulary while improving comprehension and listening skills. A great place to find audio books is Chinaberry .

A third obstacle seems to be that some kids just can't find books that they WANT to read. Help your child find books on topics that they enjoy by visiting your local library and browsing or check out www.BuildingRainbows.com so that your child can read other reviews by kids their own ages.
 posted by Jane