PreSchool Children And Books

 What is one of the most important steps that your child will ever take?

Reading, of course!

Being the concerned parent you are, you'll want to make sure your child's first experiences with books are not only successful, but fun as well.

Long before they learn to read, when they first look at books they will be curious. They may turn it this way or that, open it up, and turn a page or two, throw it back down, or even try to eat it. They may even fall in love with the strange toy at first sight—just as I did.

My fascination with books did not come to me as a youngster, but I was born with it. As a small child my mother always read to me, and I can remember wanting to learn to read more than anything else in God's gigantic world. When she would read the story to me, I would say, “why can’t I read?” She would declare that in time I would. By the time I started school, I could read most words in preschool books.

Teach your children early on that books are their friends, and through them they can enter magical worlds, journey from country to country, and even take a voyage in a spaceship through the enormous universe. This will make a great impact in their school years, and encourage them to want to read and learn more.

The preschool years provide a golden opportunity to give your child a head start in the world of books. Before your child enters preschool, buy the most popular books for preschool children. Take them to the local library, and get them familiar with the wonder of books. Have your child become familiar with the characters and story. They'll have one foot in the door, and the other on the first step to knowledge. Young children are curious about the world around them, and are always eager to learn more.

It's also a good idea to get them familiar with pictures of animals and the countries they live in. Most all kids love to learn about animals, and when they start school they'll already know about the elephant's trunk, or the monkey swinging from his tail.

Don’t' forget when you read to young children they not only look at the pictures, but also the printed words on the page. Research shows that children, who do well in school, and even adulthood, come from homes where reading was a significant part of family life.

You can play a major part in helping your child develop a positive attitude toward reading. Remember children learn by impersonation, and if your child sees you reading books, magazines, newspapers, or even working on your computer, it sends a positive message that reading is an important part of your family.

© 1999jcpinkerton