If the Book (Doesn't) Fit . . .

Sometimes text is way too long to hold your child’s interest. Or a book just doesn't grab your child.

You are the best judge of your child’s waning attention. Use your judgment. If you sense your child is losing interest, and you think the book has enough to merit to continue reading, you have some choices. 

You can tell rather than read the tale. 

You can skip some description. 

You can summarize a bit.

You can let your child narrate.

See where the pages take you . . . or just put the book down and find a better book for your child!  

Kansas Libraries Rock!

Here is why I love libraries.

The State Library of Kansas is holding its 10th annual Kansas Reads to Preschoolers event. Approximately 5,000 copies of the book, Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas will be read aloud to preschoolers throughout the state this week.

The Library is committed to literacy and learning. The goal is that every child from birth to age five is read to this week. In addition to the 5,000 print copies, the book is available in Braille and audio.

How is wonderful that?

Read all about it.

http://www.hayspost.com/2014/11/18/statewide-initiative-encouraging-early-childhood-literacy

Get Your Festive On

Before the holidays—whether it is Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa—pick up some books about the upcoming event. Read about the holiday with your preschooler. Many libraries and bookstores have special displays so it is easy to find books about the holidays.

Of course, it is fun to build anticipation about upcoming holidays. In addition, your child will learn to appreciate the meaning of special days and maybe even understand the reasons behind the celebration. 

 Reading about how families celebrate holidays also gives you a chance to compare your family traditions with those of others. It can also be fun to learn about totally different holidays —ones you usually don’t celebrate. 

Find out about holidays that are observed around the world and in your town, and open your child’s eyes to other cultures and traditions. 

Create a Parallel Universe

Find books that relate to what is going on in your daily life. This can be on an immediate, here-and-now basis. For example, if you and your child are waiting at doctor’s office or going to the vet, bring along a book that is on the topic. As you are waiting, you can compare your real-time experience with what is going on in the book. This activity can make a long waiting time so much more pleasant!

You can also do this on a longer-term basis. Say a tall building is going up next door to you. Read together about how skyscrapers are built. Your preschooler may be especially interested in its progress if she can compare it to what she has read about.

Reading about experiences that are similar to those in real time provides a perfect opportunity for your preschooler to identify with what she reads. It can make an everyday experience more meaningful. The flip side is it also makes the book more interesting because it relates to her world.