Reading a book to a little one is such a wonderful way to spend a few minutes. And it has tremendous benefits for brain development and kindergarten readiness. When either you or your child have picked out a book to read, look at the front cover. Comment on the picture and ask your child what s/he sees. A simple “Hmm, I wonder if this book is all about that. Let’s open it up and check,” is a very specific strategy. This begins to build predicting skills. Asking what might happen on the next page is a way to promote critical thinking and good listening as your child follows the story. After reading, encourage your child to talk about the story, perhaps by asking if s/he liked it, “Were there some fun parts? What was the best page in the book?” and so on. Sometimes this takes longer than the story but it unlocks lots more learning for kids. What other ?? can you suggest?
