Literacy Begins At Home - Kindergarten

BENEFITS OF READING TO CHILDREN

Reading Aloud is one of the most important gifts a child can receive. A special bond is created between an adult and child in sharing a book. It indicates to the child that someone cares enough to spend time sharing a good book. There is also a sense of security that comes from the physical closeness in sharing a story.

Literature can positively affect a child’s self-esteem. When reading aloud is a shared activity, children are encouraged to ask questions and talk about the story. This is a perfect opportunity to teach values, encourage integrity, and give children high ideals to reach for.

Giving children direct contact with books is very important for increasing attention spans, listening abilities, vocabulary, visualization, a greater cultural knowledge, and eventually success in reading.

When reading aloud to children, they automatically learn about the written language as well. Educators say that the ability to write well, to state a case carefully, and reason with others is critical, if children are to succeed.

Reading aloud can be extremely beneficial to parents who have difficulty in communicating with their child, difficulty with the English language, or lack quality time.

THOSE WONDERFUL BOOKS

Books are fabulous creatures. They have a mind of their own. At least the best ones do. They introduce us to people and places we would not ordinarily experience.

Whether young or older, children need to listen to age appropriate stories read by adults. This shared experience is enjoyable, uplifting, magical, and fun for all involved.

We promise humor, curiosity, imagination, adventure, action, mystery, friendship, bravery, and so much more from the stories that we recommend.

These are the stories that touch the heart, color the imagination, and delight the mind. So pull up a chair, we will see you there!

Kindergarten

READING TO CHILDREN

Kindergarten is the time when children become more aware and curious about people, places, and things. Their social world now includes others outside the family.

They are now ready for stories that help them try on different personalities and assist them over difficult stages. They need stories whose sole purpose is fun, entertainment, and enjoyment. Kindergartners enjoy seeing characters that take risks, gain control over their surroundings, and where all ends in happy ever after. Unlike preschool books, these stories have a beginning, middle, and end.

This is an exciting age for Kindergartners, full of new and exhausting information. Don't push for learning to read just yet. Listening to stories is where reading begins.

BARRIERS TO READING ALOUD

Television may be a great babysitter, but it is a huge obstacle to family togetherness. Television deprives a child of asking questions. It encourages deceptive thinking and stifles their imagination. It overpowers and desensitizes a child’s sense of sympathy for suffering. It is a passive activity and discourages creative play.

Most American children do minimal reading. They do not know very much about history, unless they have seen it on television. This is ignorance, not illiteracy.

Our society offers so many distractions and negative role models that most children either cannot read, will not read, or hate to read. What does this say about their choices in the voting booths, how they choose to spend their money and leisure time, how they raise their children, or the value systems they adopt and whom they emulate?

THE LAND OF CLASSICS

There is a land not far away, and only found in books today, where classic stories live and breathe. Magic awaits, if you believe.

Glass slippers, pumpkins, wicked queens, Puppets, crickets, and magic beans. Spiders and webs that save a pig, Shovels named Mike that love to dig.

Ruby shoes and yellow brick roads, little engines that pull big loads. Boys, giants, and beanstalks to climb, and, of course, a Mother Goose rhyme.

Grannies and wolves and girls in red, nannies to guide children to bed. Spindles and spells, and evil queens, knights, puppets, and magical beans.

Read the classics, they’ll touch your heart delight your mind, best place to start. But don’t delay, pull up a chair, start to read, we’ll see you there.

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HEROES

Good books contain heroes and role models to imitate. Children need to hear about people who contribute something of value to other’s lives, people who make hard decisions and have the courage to overcome adversity.

Heroes represent those who are shown bravery and display the highest character, ideals, and values. They may not have started out heroes, but along the way have become so, through hardship, perseverance, and determination.

Heroes represent those who display bravery, courage, and self-sacrifice for the greater good. They possess the highest character, ideals, and values. They may not have started out heroes, but along their way, through hardship, trials, conscience.

FOLKTALES

Introduce some to Kindergartners, but stay away from complex or gory ones. Try some folktales from other countries and cultures. They not only entertain, but teach children how universal stories are. Choose versions that maintain some of the flow of the original language.

Kindergartners enjoy seeing characters who take risks, gain control over their surroundings and where all ends in happy ever after. Unlike preschool books, these stores have a beginning, middle and end.

FAIRY TALES

Because their attention spans are increasing, introduce a few of the more complicated fairytales, but stay away from the more gruesome ones.

ANIMAL STORIES

Animals are the main characters and become substitutes for children.