• Pick a regular time for reading together, either before bed or in the morning or both.



• Let your child choose the story; if your child gets bored, find a different one.



• Get to know your local library. Besides sparing your wallet the costs of a constant stream of new books, you can ask a librarian for book recommendations--or, better yet, have your child ask. And getting his own library card makes a child feel very grown up.



• Stop and talk about what you're reading. What does your child find exciting, funny, or interesting? Why? What does she think will happen in the end? Can she imagine any other endings? Does the book remind her of anything else you've read together, or of anything from real life? These sorts of discussions help your child enter into the imaginative world of books. The more you think about the story in creative ways, the richer the experience will be.



• Take turns reading a simple book. You read two pages, then your child reads one. Or go paragraph by paragraph. This technique is sometimes called paired reading, and it is very helpful for children just learning to read. It lets them get more pleasure from the book with less work. It also increases their exposure to books and reading, which is even more important.



• Even when your child is old enough to read well on her own, you don't have to give up reading together. Reading independently does not have to replace being read to; it can be an additional pleasure. (Jim Trelease, the author of the wonderful Read Aloud Handbook tells a story about a girl who pretended she couldn't read because she thought that her mom would stop their read-aloud sessions when she knew.) There is an infinite world of literature to explore, from biography to fantasy to nonfiction. Choosing your read-aloud books together is a great way to learn what interests your child. You can even enjoy some of your favorite picture books together, just for old times' sake.

• Reading and Your Child

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