4R’s: Reading Aloud

     One of the most important things you can do to help your preschooler learn is reading aloud to him.  When you read aloud to your child, you are teaching language, vocabulary, speech, pre-reading skills, pre-writing skills, and more.  Reading aloud also builds your child’s attention span, and of course, teaches him about the world.

     Reading aloud is also a great time to enjoy your child’s company, build your relationship, and make some special memories.  There is nothing I like better than snuggling on the couch or bed with my boys on either side of me, fluffy covers over our feet, enjoying a good book!  We try to read together at least three or four times a day—at Bible time, unit/story-time, after lunch/before nap, and before bedtime (some families I know have Mom read a book to their preschoolers, and then Dad takes a turn!)

     Be sure to choose the books you read to your children carefully.  Not just any book will do.  We want to help our children develop an appetite for the best in literature.  In my book, Homepreschool and Beyond, I’ve devoted two whole chapters to books; one on how to choose good picture books, and another that lists, by topic, the best classic picture books.  

       It’s easy to acquire a large library of classic picture books by purchasing used books through Thrift Shops, websites, yard sales, and library sales.  Here are a few of my all-time favorites to get you started–these are books no preschooler should miss: 

 Angus Lost, Angus and the Cat, Angus and the Ducks, Ask Mr. Bear, The Story About Ping, and others by Marjorie Flack

 Caps For Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina

Harry and the Lady Next Door, Harry by the Sea, Harry the Dirty Dog, No Roses For Harry, and others by Gene Zion

Katy and the Big Snow, Little House, The; Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, and others by Virgina Lee Burton

 Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Grey Bridge, The, by Hildegarde

 Make Way for Ducklings, Blueberries for Sal, and others by Robert McCloskey

 Tale of Peter Rabbit, The and others by Beatrix Potter

Excerpts  from Homepreschool and Beyond:  A Comprehensive Guide to Early Home Education, used with permission.  All rights reserved.