So, to kick off Children's Book Week and to introduce you to this organization, I am very excited to share the following guest blog post by Jennifer Liu Bryan, co-founder of readalound.org. Please share this post and spread the word.
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Parenting in the modern age can mean navigating a swamp of anxieties. How
can I build his vocabulary? When will he read? Am I doing the right
things to prepare him for school? Is she behind the other kids?
Familiar worries. Difficult questions. Thankfully, there is at least one right answer: Read Aloud 15 MINUTES. Every child. Every parent. Every day.
That
is the message of a national campaign that aims to make reading aloud
for 15 minutes every day the new parenting standard. That simple change,
the campaign’s supporters argue, can change the face of education in
this country.
Little
did you know, sitting there with your wiggly one while reading aloud
from good Dr. Seuss, that you were performing a magical act by:
- Building brains. Ages 0 to 3 are crucial years for brain development, and reading aloud stimulates critical areas.
- Growing vocabulary. The more words a child knows, the greater her advantage in school. Reading aloud introduces words and concepts a child might not encounter in every day conversation.
- Readying your child to read. Turning those pages tells your child how books work. Moving your finger under the words helps her understand that reading goes left to right. Talking about the story and pictures assists in your child’s comprehension.
- Teaching and learning. You’re never too young — or too old — to learn something from a book. You are your child’s first and most important teacher.
- Fostering a love of reading. Want to raise a reader? Read aloud! There’s no better advertisement than your example.
The
stakes could not be higher. If nothing changes, 15 million children
born over the next decade will not be kindergarten ready. Reading aloud
can make a difference, and people just don’t know it: Even in higher
income families, more than 40% of families don’t read aloud every day.
The
ten-year Read Aloud 15 MINUTES campaign has already attracted the
support of major partners such as the Center for the Book in the Library
of Congress, the American Library Association, the United Way Worldwide
and Reach Out and Read.
The
next step? Getting parents to understand that reading aloud for 15
minutes is as important to their child’s well being as daily tooth
brushing and healthy eating. But, like every great movement, this one
has to start with a groundswell. Let’s make it happen by spreading the
word about how important, how multi-dimensional, how essential — no, how
magical — reading aloud really is.
Share the message with your family and friends. Promote the campaign in your workplace. And, of course, Read Aloud 15 MINUTES. Every child. Every parent. Every day.
Jennifer Liu Bryan lives in Alexandria, VA, and is the author of Hilda, A Very Loyal Goat, a picture book for early readers, and co-author of Cole Family Christmas, a children's Christmas story. She is co-founder of ReadAloud.org and mother to three children (aged 6, 4 and 1).
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