Reading aloud is definitely a learned technique—just ask our storytime librarians! Here are six tips to become a pro at reading aloud to your children:
Choose the right book.
It’s a lot easier than it sounds. You simply need to pick a book that you are interested in reading with your child. Or let your child do the choosing—your child will be happy that their opinion matters!
Read clearly.
To read as clearly as possible, try to make sure you pronounce each word so that your child can understand. It can be a great idea to preview your child’s books, so you have time to get familiar with the text and be prepared for any challenging words or phrases.
Be expressive.
Read with the emotion of the characters. Pay attention to whether the author uses exclamation marks or bold words to emphasize as you read. If there are sound effects, play along and make them. By varying your voice, you give your child a more dynamic reading experience.
Slow down.
Take your time reading with your child. Don’t rush your reading!
Interact.
Talk about what you see in the illustrations. If your child has questions, answer them. Make predictions—ask them what they think will happen next in the story. If you check out a book from our Interactive section of Picture Books, play along and follow the instructions or cues accordingly.
Have fun.
It’s just as easy as it sounds. If shared reading time is a fun time with your child, they’ll want to do it more and more. Make it fun for you both!
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