| Submitted by Patsy Kisner
Calhoun County Schools will celebrate "Read
to Me Day" today by
having parents read in classrooms at Arnoldsburg
and Pleasant Hill Schools.
This event will
showcase the importance of reading to young
children.
Research shows that parents
play an instrumental role in nurturing a love of
reading in their children.
There are several things parents can do to
encourage reading.
First, have reading material
in your home. Make sure these items are readily
available to your children and that they include
topics that interest the child.
For instance,
if your child likes dogs and four-wheelers,
include books on those subjects or perhaps
subscribe to a magazine about them to arrive in
the mail.
Next, make a special reading spot in your
home. This can be in the child's room and
should be comfortable and fun with good lighting.
Parents also have to be reading role
models. Research has shown that one of the
major things that work against a child becoming
an excellent reader is parents that do not
read.
Let your children see you reading
magazines, newspapers, add bulletins and books.
Encourage children's help with reading recipes
and instruction manuals too.
Writing is important as well. Give your
children opportunities to write lists, letters
and thank you notes. Have them write their own
personal notes to include in Christmas cards.
Buy them a journal or diary for the holidays.
Other good holiday ideas are buying games
like scrabble or gifts that come with a
companion book, such as a bat and ball with a
book about baseball, or a nature book and a
magnifying glass.
Don't forget the importance of the nightly
bedtime story. Not only is this soothing and
can help children sleep better, it also inspires
a love of reading.
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