BORGARBÓKASAFNIÐ
Reading to children from the very start boosts their vocabulary and aids their linguistic development, as well as aiding their reading comprehension down the line. Here are a few helpful tips from Bergrún Íris, children's book author, on how to encourage reading.
As soon as the child can hold its head, it's time to start reading for them. The child will want to touch and even taste the book, so it's a good idea to bring out books that can withstand some wear and tear. Picture books with simple and clear pictures are a good fit.
Our voices change when we read, our heartrates go down (ours and our child's), our breathing slows and our muscles relax. The bedtime story becomes a quality time that supports good sleeping habits and improves everyone's night sleep.
By reading books, the grown up uses more and different words than in regular speech, and so increases the child's vocabulary. Reading teaches the child to speak and express themselves more fully. Point out what you see on the page and teach the child to connect words with images.
Simple stories spark interest and the child will likely want to read the same book again and again. Maybe the child knows the story by heart and corrects the adult instantly if they retell it in their own words.
Text and images: Bergrún Íris.