Reading to your child is fundamental, say experts
CONNELLSVILLE – Imagine that one day a genie appears at your door and offers you a magic potion guaranteed to make wondrous things happen for your child. “Just give your child a bit of this potion each day,” says the genie. “Before long, their conversations will be filled with more interesting words and information and they will increase their attention span.”
When the genie is asked where to purchase the potion, he simply replies, “The answer is in the book.”
Read to your child.
That was the message that Elaine S. Barry, an instructor of human development and family studies at Penn State Fayette Campus, provided to a handful of parents recently during a parent workshop designed to emphasize the fundamentals of reading and math and how both are incorporated into everyday life.
The workshop was sponsored by the Connellsville Area School District’s Title I teachers. Becky McLuckey, a principal in the district, told the parents who attended they are their child’s first and most important teachers.
As the mother of three children, Barry referred to the importance of reading as a “magic bullet” and that the cost for improving such skills is not measured in money but in the time that parents spend with their children.
“The investment is well worth it in the long run,” said Barry.
According to Barry, experts in child development have found that reading is one of the most important skills a child can master because they continue to learn from it throughout life.
Barry added parents should read out loud and often to their child. Even as little as 15 minutes a day of reading to children is associated with higher grades in school, said Barry.
“What is read, is not as important as how often it’s read,” she added.
When it comes to age, Barry said it’s never too late to start reading to a child. “It’s also a good way to spend time together,” added Barry.
Since parents serve as the primary role models for their children, Barry suggested for parents to let children see them reading, encourage visits to the local library or bookstore and to show children what they can learn by reading such as taking part in cooking.
In conjunction with reading and listening, Barry said children often develop good writing skills. By reading a story repeatedly, Barry said children also tend to build more vocal skills and become better storytellers. Emotional development and academic achievement are also increased.
On the average, Barry said children ages one-and-a-half to nine years old learn at least nine new words a day through hearing and listening.
While it is important for parents to spend time with their children to read, Barry said it is just as important for math. “Math is everywhere; you can’t get away from it,” added Barry.
McLuckey said the Connellsville School District is focusing more on math this school year, as the state standards for proficiency have become more stringent.
McLuckey also commended those parents who attended the workshop, saying they provided their children with an important message by being there.