Reading to the child and reading with the child

Stories offer an opportunity for a child to understand or analyze something he/she has experienced, to understand characters' behaviors, as well as the causes and consequences of those behaviors. Stories offer an opportunity for a child to reflect and establish logical connections, speak, imagine - change the course or ending of a story and the like.

At the mention of reading, we usually first think of a bedtime ritual. The adult takes the book and reads it aloud. The child may or may not participate in this activity and it is mainly intended to calm the child. The parent's warm voice, closeness, tenderness in this activity certainly contribute to closeness with the child.

Reading with a child is different

It requires the child to be awake, ready to actively participate, initiate and lead the reading activity.

Reading with the child should take place during the day, when the child chooses that activity and is ready to explore through it. The book is then chosen by the child, and, as in any game, it is important to enable the child to lead the reading activity itself. It is important to appreciate, recognize and empower the child's ways of participating, expand the child's interest, keep the child's attention and enable true exploration and learning through playing with words and images.

You can read with your child anytime and anywhere 

Take a book with you when you go for a walk, or for a pediatric check-up. Make books available to the child from the earliest days - put them somewhere where he/she can reach them, leave them in every room. Keep in mind that 15 minutes of reading with the child is an amount of "language nutrition" that will make a difference to your child's experience and development!