By Carol Church, Writer, Family Album
Reviewed by Heidi Radunovich, PhD, Department of Family, Youth, and Community Sciences, University of Florida
This post is in honor of International Children’s Book Day, celebrated April 2 around the world.
Children’s picture books come in many different forms, from well-known classics to nursery rhymes to books intended to teach colors, letters, or words. I’ve recently seen some charming, beautiful books that tell a story completely though illustrations, with the parent providing the narration.
A recent study in a journal on children’s language acquisition compared the reading experiences children have with wordless picture story books like these to their experiences with flashcard-style books intended to teach vocabulary.
To learn more, researchers performed an experiment. Mothers shared two books with their young toddlers, who were between the ages of one and half and two. One book was a wordless narrative about animals, and the other had a picture of a single animal on each page, but no story.
Mothers sharing the narrative books spoke more and used much more complex and varied language. They also asked more questions about what characters were thinking, and often talked to the child about what he or she thought about the book. For instance, they asked questions like, “Where do you think the squirrel is going to go now?” Conversations like these are known to help children learn language and develop reading skills.
Based on this study, these researchers counsel parents not to be too tempted by the many so-called “educational” flashcard-type books so heavily marketed today. The rich and meaningful interactions parents create when sharing storybooks with their children may offer more.
Of course, any reading you do with your child is a positive step. You can start when your child is just an infant. Although at first it may not seem like he or she is paying attention, you’re establishing a habit and routine that will stay with the both of you. And you’ll be surprised how soon that little face will show interest, especially if you’re choosing bright and engaging books.
As your child grows and develops, you’ll soon find that he or she is very interested in the storybooks you select, and may develop beloved favorites. Try to keep reading aloud at least 15 minutes a day, even after children are reading well on their own. This simple habit is an enjoyable one, and can make a huge difference to your child. Reading aloud is one of the most important things parents can do to make sure their children develop strong literacy skills.
For more information on the value of reading with children and suggestions about how to integrate reading aloud into your family life, visit Reading Aloud at Reading is Fundamental and Read Aloud 15 Minutes.
Further Reading
Reading Aloud with Children of All Ages
Reading, Literacy, and Your Child
Reading Aloud to Premature or Sick Babies (from UF/IFAS EDIS)
(Image credit: UF/IFAS file photo.)
References:
Nyhout, A., & O’Neill, D. K. (2013). Mothers’ complex talk when sharing books with their toddlers: Book genre matters. First Language, 33(2), 115-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0142723713479438
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