Why Reading Aloud Helps Your Child Succeed in School
Author: Amy Mullert, Volunteer Librarian, Lighthouse Primary School
Children can comprehend language that is beyond their reading ability. Additionally, the language of literature is more descriptive and colourful than conversational oral language used in daily life, and it tends to use more formal grammatical structures. By listening to such books being read to them, the vocabulary and structures stretch their language development further. This is why reading aloud even to older children is beneficial to them, especially when you tackle more challenging classics with somewhat archaic language, such as Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson or Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie. Together you can help them grapple with some of the complexities of the language, and they can also glean meaning from your reading intonation that they would not catch when trying to read independently.
When it comes to vocabulary development, there is a direct correlation with a child’s vocabulary and the amount an adult reads aloud to them. Books are resources for all kinds of information, and when we read books with our children, they learn many new words as we discuss the stories and the pictures therein. As we use the new words and relate them to their lives, the words become meaningful to them and take their place in their active vocabulary that they can draw upon. Their background knowledge about the world around them increases. The more they know about their world, the easier it is for them to understand new concepts presented to them in the school environment as well.
Children’s overall cognitive development is also enhanced as they imagine what might happen next in the plot, discuss how they might proceed if they were the main character, and consider alternate endings. This helps them with construction of thought processes, problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities. As they develop a habit of sitting and listening to a book being read to them, they increase their ability to concentrate and focus. Furthermore, compared to moving pictures such as cartoons or films, listening to stories ignites the imagination as children picture the scenes and characters in their own mind’s eye, which exercises their creativity. We encourage you to imagine together with your child who the most likely suspect might be in a mystery novel and why, or imagine how your lives would be different if you lived in the jungle like Mowgli in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Imagining together is a form of play, which is also vital for our wellbeing.
Overcoming Obstacles to Reading
It is true that not all children are drawn to books nor may our children discover books in the same way we may have as children. However, almost everyone is drawn to stories. Oral storytelling, movies, audio books, and graphic novels are other ways that people enjoy and relate to stories. These can become an entry point to reading as well. For example, if your child enjoys Disney movies, they may like to read books with the familiar stories and pictures from the films. On the other hand, if your child has a strong interest in something, such as fishing, you could even take photos of the fish they have caught and their fishing experiences, print the photos and bind them into a homemade book to which they can add written descriptions or stories. This demonstrates how and why some authors write books, to share stories and experiences, or to share information. As they themselves become authors, they may begin to see books as doorways to learning others’ stories, which may motivate them to read.
Audio books are another way to engage in stories. For emerging and struggling readers, it can be very helpful to listen to an audio version while reading along with the book text. Spotify and youtube.com have free audiobooks available.
Your child may have developed a habit of playing video games or watching TV, and reading books seems boring in comparison. Their brains have become accustomed to the stimulation of fast-moving pictures. Already, by choosing Lighthouse as a partner in your child’s education, you as a parent or caregiver most likely value your child’s future as a lifelong learner, and you probably want them to be able to communicate effectively as a reader and writer in at least one language. We must put stringent boundaries on the use of devices and video game use in our families to help achieve this goal. This begins with the way we model our use of technology as caregivers. Making changes like these will naturally be met with a strong negative reaction at first because it is different from what they are used to. However, by all means, even if they are not reading books, it is beneficial to your child to engage in new pastimes instead of technology use for their physical and mental development. Playing outside, learning a new hobby, spending time with family, engaging in organized sports, serving the community, or learning a craft passed down from a relative are all valuable ways they can spend their time, even if they are not reading. As they wean from devices, they may eventually come to enjoy reading a book with you or on their own.
Developing a Reading Routine
If you have not already, now is the best time to start a regular time of reading with your child. Perhaps twenty minutes at bedtime, while waiting in the car, or during rest time on the weekend would be good times for your family. The easiest way to make it a regular habit is by incorporating it into your existing routine. The most important thing is that it be a pleasant time spent together. Even more important than building reading skills is building your parent-child bond, and time spent together is invaluable. Don’t read because you have to, but because you want to enjoy the time with your child!
Finally, for any questions or further support for your child’s reading journey, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at library@lighthouse.edu.mu.
Amy is a qualified Language teacher and mother of three children, aged 5, 9 and 11.