Summer brings a more relaxed atmosphere, with later bedtimes and a break from many routines. However, one routine you shouldn’t let go of is family reading. For young children, there’s no such thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to reading. Reading routines hold a special place in our hearts and go beyond mere literacy skills.
During infancy and early childhood, the brain rapidly forms connections that are strengthened or pruned based on experiences. Complex skills, such as reading, rely on connections between various brain regions, which are established through exposure and practice. And it is through repetition that these connections are generated and reinforced. Even if a teething toddler chews on a board book or gets easily distracted, it’s all part of the learning process. So, don’t give up.
When children engage in repeated routines, they find comfort in the familiarity. While the repetition may become tiresome for parents, it is during these moments that children are absorbing everything they need to know about reading. A child’s understanding goes beyond the story itself. They learn about the mechanics of a book—how spoken words correlate with the words on the page, how pages are turned right-to-left while words are read left-to-right, and how illustrations bring words to life while leaving room for the reader’s imagination. These are the building blocks of literacy.
Make shared reading time as interactive as possible. Discuss the events depicted in the pictures. Infuse personality by using different voices for different characters. Adjust the reading pace to match the story’s rhythm. Encourage your child to ask questions and create opportunities for discussions throughout the story. Foster predictions and highlight changes in emotions. Reading nurtures empathy and, in addition to helping children achieve early literacy goals, it expands their vocabulary and speaking skills.
Parents may be surprised to witness their child’s evolving understanding of the same book. Answers to the same questions may vary as a child explores all the possibilities within a simple picture book. If a child knows a story so well from repeated readings, hand them the book and let them “read” it to you, even if it’s just pretend.
Remember, it’s perfectly fine to read the same book over and over. When a child has heard a story so many times that they know every word, it demonstrates mastery of a vital language and literacy activity, instilling a sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy.
Amidst the distractions and busyness of the world, a reading routine allows a grown-up and child to spend quality time together. It reinforces the notion that this child is truly important to the adult. When a child gets to choose a book and sit down to read, it sends a powerful message: “I matter to this grown-up.” It’s also an opportunity for parents to slow down, put away their phones, and appreciate the meaningfulness of the moment. Such experiences strengthen the bond between parent and child.