Become an Expert!

Have you noticed a topic or theme that your child is passionate about? It might be princesses or earth movers or dinosaurs. Start a little “collection.” Go to the library or purchase books on this “topic.” (If you elect to buy books, keep the books about that topic together on a shelf. It is a way to encourage the idea of organizing things that go together.)

Your child is discovering that reading can open doors to learning more and more about his or her interests. Becoming an expert will make him or her feel excited about learning and also provide a purpose for your reading together. 

What's Next?

Here is a way to help your child build comprehension skills  . . . and use imagination.

After you and your child finish reading a story together, close the book, and ask, "What do you think happens next?" or "What happens the next day?"

This kind of thinking helps your child in a few ways. It encourages your child to use what he or she already knows about a character or a situation and run with it—to spin some educated guesses based on that information. That is also called making inferences, which a skill your child will use in school and in life.

For now, unburdened by finding right answers, your child is simply stretching his or her imagination, and engaging in some original storytelling. Enjoy it together!