5 Ways To Make Reading More Enriching For Kids

iKids Apps is passionate about reading to children.  Whenever possible, try to read to the kids in your life every day.  When it’s not, iKids Play is a great alternative.

Here are five ways to make reading to children more enriching (and more enjoyable for everyone!).

1. Let the child “digest” the page before you start reading.  When you turn to a new page of a children’s picture book, let them look at the illustration before you jump right into reading the words on the page.  Their imagination will begin to take off, and most children will begin envisioning the illustration coming alive on the page as you read the story.
 

2. Use varying tones of voice.  Reading has more emphasis when the inflection and tone in your voice changes.  Create voices for the different characters in the story, and you’ll begin to bring them to life.  Plus, it challenges your creativity as the reader, too!
 

3. Repeat the same stories.  Although sometimes boring to adults, repetitive reading of the same stories time-after-time, night-after-night is an excellent learning experience for children.  They can begin relating the letters and words on the page to the story you are verbally telling them.  Being read to as a child is a critical literacy factor as children continue to grow and read more challenging books.  Repetitive reading is an important learning factor.
 

4. Seek out books about things your child likes, whether it be baseball, music, art, superheroes or pets.  Encourage your child to read the books to you.  Children as young as age 2 will often mimic reading, even if they are simply turning pages and making different sounds with their voice.
 

5. When the story is over, ask your child about their favorite part.  It further engages them in the story, and gives you a peek into their imagination.  Ask them why they liked that part and what they imagined the characters felt at that moment in the story.