How to Get Preschoolers Excited About Reading

Choosing Books for Preschoolers

When choosing good books for preschoolers look for:

• Illustrations and photos that are clear, colorful, and engaging.
• Simple, fun plots. The action should move quickly so each book can be finished in one sitting.
• Lively rhymes and repetition that children can repeat and remember.
• Stories about everyday events, fears, or challenges such as a new baby in the family.
• Stories that review basic concepts, such as letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.
• Characters their age or slightly older.
• Playful animals will also hold their attention.

Quick Tip:  Take books everywhere (the car, bus,doctor’s office), and make the most of every minute.

Adventures in Libraries

There’s a whole world out there to explore. All you need is a little imagination and a library card. Take a trip to your local library and discover books filled with new places to see, people to meet, and things to try. Borrow as many adventurefilled books as you choose, for free! Your children’s librarian will be happy to help you find the best books for your journey. While you’re at the library, don’t forget to ask about the reading clubs, story hours, puppet shows, and other fun, family activities offered all year long.

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A Month of Reading Fun

Reading every day, even for just a few minutes, and even if it’s not a book, improves a child’s ability to read and learn. Here is an entire month of literacy activities to share with your children. Do them in any order you choose, just pick the ones that look interesting, or think of your own ideas for daily reading fun.

Week 1:

• Make a reading tree. Draw a tree trunk on a piece of paper and tape it to a wall. Every time you read a book together, write the title on a paper leaf and tape it to the tree.
• Encourage your children to trade books with friends.
• Write a thank-you note or birthday card together.
• Read road signs together. Make a game out of it.
• Work up an appetite by reading a story about food. Make and eat the food you read about.
• Tell your children, “An animal has escaped from the zoo!” Ask them to make up a story about it. Tell the story to a friend or family member, write it down, or illustrate it.
• Play a board game. Help your children read the words and identify game pieces, cards, and the spinner or dice.

Week 2:

• Have your children draw a picture postcard of an imaginary place. On the back, help them write a message to a friend.
• Encourage your children to play with plastic or foam letters in the bathtub.
• Take your children to the library. Attend a preschool story hour and check out books together.
• Visit a museum, post office, or shop in your neighborhood. Have your children name and describe all the things they see.
• Read a book together in a new place, such as the playground.
• Record yourself reading a book on tape. Teach your children to play the tape and “read” the book along with the tape.
• Encourage your children to make letters (or marks that resemble letters) in the dirt, sand, or snow.

Week 3:

• Help your children write letters or e-mails to a friend or family member.
• Read a picture book without words. Have your children retell the story in their own words.
• Go to www.rif.org/readingplanet and play a reading game with your children.
• Sing the ABC song together.
• Have your children make illustrations for a favorite book.
• Tell a fairy tale with your children, and take turns making up the story.
• Make a simple family photo album. Have your children explain or describe the pictures to other family members.

Week 4:

• Read aloud a nonfiction book about something your children like, such as dinosaurs or insects.
• Play a simple card game, such as Go Fish or Concentration, together.
• Play with sidewalk chalk outside. Draw, scribble, or play hopscotch.
• Make letters out of clay or bread dough together.
• Tell your children a story about something that happened to you when you were a child.
• Let your children make up a sequel or prequel to a favorite story. Write it down as they dictate the story to you.
• Set up a home library. A few books on a special shelf is a great start. It doesn’t have to be expensive—used
  bookstores, yard sales, and flea markets sell books that children will treasure for years.