Childhood Reading Improves Literacy
Reading is fundamental to learning. Ever since the early days of Sesame Street and the Electric Company, two wildly popular children's programs on PBS, it has been universally accepted that reading improves one's vocabulary, as well as a person's thinking and writing skills.
According to the National Institute For Literacy's web site, "The road to becoming a reader begins early in a child's life and continues for many years." Young children often want to be like their parents. In this vein, kids will sometimes imitate their mother or father's actions. It is likely that a child will notice when a parent values reading, when he or she sets aside the time to read each day, either a book or simply the newspaper.
In order to instill a love for reading, or at the very least, a solid interest in it, parents can figure out ways to make reading enjoyable for kids. One way to make reading fun is to coordinate a book discussion for them and their friends.
Choosing the Right Book For Your Child
Any successful book group starts with a good book choice. The book should be about a topic or character that is appealing to the child's age and sophistication. One terrific way to ensure that the book is age appropriate is to ask a librarian. Local public libraries are chock full of resources and information and the staff are generally eager to help a young reader.
Many authors of children's books also maintain web sites with colorful images, games and questions that help the reader think about the characters and the various stories. This will help a child determine if the book and/or author is what they are looking for.
Parents can also ask some friends what their kids like to read. Many adults use this word-of-mouth recommendation as the most reliable method. Find a child with similar interests to your own and ask what that kid likes to read. It's simple and easy.
Setting Up The Book Discussion
First, choose the host for the discussion. That person should be permitted to select the book so long as it is age-appropriate. In order to create a festive and fun book group, the host's parents should provide some treats and snacks that coordinate with a theme in the book.
The child-host should also work with a parent to compile some thoughtful discussion questions to keep the meeting moving forward. Some examples include asking participants what they thought of the main character, the setting and any significant relationships in the story. In all likelihood, a librarian or the author's web site will provide some clear guidance and direction in this regard.
Most importantly, make it fun. Let the kids act out their favorite scenes from the book. Encourage the children to share their favorite quotes and ask them to explain why they chose a particular phrase. In all likelihood, a grown-up will have to oversee and moderate the discussion.
A Children's Book Club Can Be Fun and Educational
Getting a group of friends together to discuss a book, its main characters and story-line is a priceless activity. Kids will bond together in a special way that no other activity can afford. Children will unknowingly be "forced" to think about and process what they read in order to share their thoughts with their friends.
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