Expand Your Child's Mind Through Reading

By Jean Gullikson, Youth Services Manager, Carnegie-Stout Public Library

Most parents know the importance of regular reading to children. The benefits – increased vocabulary, love for learning, and special bonding time – are well-documented. However, books also can enrich a child’s life by extending their limits – through expanded interests, improved thinking skills, and broadening the imagination. Here is how to help make that happen for your child.

Try something new – Every child has favorite stories they love to hear again and again. Keep sharing these as repetition enhances learning and memory. Also encourage your child to look for different reading material. It is okay to enjoy the latest “Bob the Builder” title, but try some great biographies and nonfiction being published. Kids (especially boys) love to learn new things that interest them.

Poetry often gets a bad reputation as being stuffy or serious. Not so – remember Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutsky? Their clever humor still is tickling funny bones today. Many new writers have poetry that is entertaining and insightful. Everyone loves a good laugh. Another option is to find joke and riddle books. Your children will entertain themselves and their friends. Wordplay in many jokes boosts brainpower.

Encourage learning for fun – Children enjoy hobbies and pastimes. Your library has a vast selection of fiction and nonfiction books about subjects to complement any interests. Is your child excited about a sport? Look for books on favorite teams or players. Have a child who likes to help in the kitchen? Take home children’s cookbooks featuring foods from different cultures. Is your daughter a “girly-girl?” Seek out books on beauty tips, hair accessories, or room decoration. She’ll love the new ideas!

Share more than the written word – When reading to your child, utilize pictures and pauses at page turns. Ask your child what they think will happen next or to point out special objects in the illustrations. Wordless books are fun for pre-readers. By deciphering the illustrations on each page, children can tell you the story.

Read more than books – Reluctant readers may feel overwhelmed with the length of some books. Look for magazines on a variety of subjects – nature, sports, science, video games, crafting, and more. A magazine’s format with short articles and colorful photos will appeal to a child who is not enthusiastic about reading, yet they still will get all the benefits.

Make it a family affair – If your family is planning a trip, read about the location and its history or folklore. Reading will build anticipation, and your destination will be more meaningful when you arrive. Take along audiobooks (stories on cassette or CD). Many children’s chapter books make exiting, humorous, and interesting listening experiences for the entire family. They will pass the miles and time.

These are just a few suggestions for new ways to look at books. Ask your children about their interests; they might have their own ideas on what to read. Then seek out some family reading material today and expand your child’s mind.