Do you regularly take time to read aloud and tell stories with your child? Especially nowadays, when we are all rushed through the days, reading aloud becomes a wonderfully relaxing oasis of calm for young and old. Reading aloud means: cuddling together, paying attention, and for parents, shutting down for a moment. Even the youngest children soon look forward to reading aloud. And by the way, this feel-good time has proven to be invaluable for the mental and social development of your child: It promotes both imagination and language development. Scientists agree that reading aloud to children can already intensively promote later social and academic learning.
"Should I really read to my baby already? He doesn't even understand me yet!" You may have asked yourself this question at one time or another. The answer is yes! - Researchers have proven the tremendous benefits that babies as young as three months old derive from being read to. Babies recognize their parents' soothing voices and feel secure when they listen. Of course, it makes little sense to read the story of Pippi Longstocking to a one-year-old child. However, the book market already offers a large selection of illustrated books made of sturdy material for the youngest children.
Reading likes cozy places: In a homey place and snuggled up together, reading time becomes a wonderful relaxation time for young and old alike.
Don't get distracted: Try to create a quiet zone for read-aloud time: without interference from the radio, TV, and cell phone.
There are many times during the day that are suitable for reading aloud. Be it in the evening before bedtime or to ring in naptime. You'll see, reading aloud quickly develops into a cherished ritual. Your child will probably become more and more curious and will also enjoy reaching for a book outside of the shared reading times.
For the very youngest bookworms, it is often still difficult to listen intently for a long time. Therefore, tell freely again and again and discover together what all is to see and experience in the book.
Little kids like to ramble and tell their own "stories" or ask questions in the middle of things. That's okay and a good thing. Let yourself be taken on the mind trip and dive into the conversation with your child. At some point, you'll come back to the story from the book.
The bear may be read grumpily, while the mouse gets a squeaky voice. Depending on the mood you want to create, you can sometimes read in a whisper or extra loud. You can make faces, roll your eyes and gesticulate wildly. Try out what suits you and the story. You'll find out how much fun you'll both have doing it!
The younger your child, the simpler the book should be. Most suitable for the very young are books made of cloth, thick cardboard or even plastic. The advantage of these books is that they are made more robust. They can also be touched and "read" by a small child without breaking right away.
For children 2 years and older, there is an abundance of classic children's books. In addition, the "Wimmelbücher" are very popular in this age group. These are large-format picture books without text with very many different discovery possibilities. Just browse through the bookstore and let yourself be inspired. You'll also get qualified advice at specialty stores. Or you can get tips online on the pages of Stiftung Lesen.
At many pediatricians' offices, you can get the "Lesestart 1-2-3" set for U6 and U7 from Stiftung Lesen, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. It contains a picture book and a brochure for parents. Information on which practices are participating in this campaign and other tips can be found on the Internet portal "Lesestart 1-2-3".
Reading tips to watch are available on YouTube: The short films from "Lesestart - Three Milestones for Reading" demonstrate how you can fit reading aloud into your turbulent everyday life.
.The Internet pages of the Reading Foundation offer lots of suggestions for reading aloud. Here you can find reading tips, regular reading recommendations, and action ideas for different age groups.
