RABT asked in a recent comment what the right age to begin "chapter books" is for young children. Good question! The answer is (of course) it varies from child to child. Some children love picture books so much that they don't yet enjoy a book without illustrations. In fact, pictures are ways that children learn a lot about what the language is saying. Looking at the pictures is a form of "pre-reading. " Have you ever seen your pre-schooler looking at a favorite book, saying the words and "reading" the book? If you have, you've seen your child reading!
Most "chapter books" require the child to wait for the end of the story, to wait for the resolution of any conflict, or to wait to see what happens next. Some young children can wait, but many others need to know that everything is all right NOW! They can't wait until tomorrow night!
I feel that the best approach is to pick a short chapter book that you, the adult reader, enjoy and introduce that to your child. (Please, no Dickens just yet!) When parents read with enthusiasm and verve, children understand that this is a good book--mommy/daddy likes it! If the book has pictures every now and then, be sure to show them to your child. If there are no pictures, then stop reading every so often and help your child get a mental picture of what's happening: "When I think of the farm, I imagine that it's big with a fence around it." The more children can relate to what the story is about, the more they will be invested listeners.
Reading chapter books is a wonderful way to expand your child's vocabulary, help them learn the excitement of "what's coming next." and even do some guessing about what the future holds for the characters in the story.
Some of my favorite chapter books are those by William Steig, such as "Amos and Boris." The vocabulary is so rich and the action so real that even three year-olds sit for this book (for 10-12 minutes). You all probably know Steig's famous picture books such as "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble"--try his small chapter books for a pleasant surprise.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Holidays Ahead!
By now, your little one is probably nicely "settled in" at nursery school or day care (if not, feel free to ask me about some separation strategies that might work). So, that means it's time for the holidays to start! Your family may celebrate Thanksgiving, Channukah, Kwanza, or Christmas, or even all of these holidays in one way or another. For small children, all holidays are early experiences with traditions and meanings that are important to their families--that's why you celebrate! Religious holidays are unique opportunities to transmit the strength, joy, and beauty of one's beliefs while enjoying a special time with your children.
I encourage parents to decide what's really important about the holidays and then look for ways to share that importance with small children. For instance, a great meal at Grandma's might be your family tradition for Thanksgiving. Is there something that you and your child(ren) can cook together and bring to the festive table? Once you get to Grandma's (or wherever you are invited), there may be a delay before the meal starts; make sure you have crayons and paper so your child can "decorate" Thanksgiving signs for the front door. If you emphasize the importance of giving thanks at this season (a worthy characteristic for children to be aware of), you can tell your child what you are thankful for. You can show your gratitude by sharing your good fortune--donating to/volunteering at a food bank with your child. Let your child pick out a food item to put in the food drive barrel at your local grocery store.
Just remember to focus on what's important about any holiday to you--don't worry about what the neighbors are doing or what Grandma wants you to do. By making the holiday personal, your child will come to love the meaning of the day and look forward to each new year and the opportunity to celebrate.
I encourage parents to decide what's really important about the holidays and then look for ways to share that importance with small children. For instance, a great meal at Grandma's might be your family tradition for Thanksgiving. Is there something that you and your child(ren) can cook together and bring to the festive table? Once you get to Grandma's (or wherever you are invited), there may be a delay before the meal starts; make sure you have crayons and paper so your child can "decorate" Thanksgiving signs for the front door. If you emphasize the importance of giving thanks at this season (a worthy characteristic for children to be aware of), you can tell your child what you are thankful for. You can show your gratitude by sharing your good fortune--donating to/volunteering at a food bank with your child. Let your child pick out a food item to put in the food drive barrel at your local grocery store.
Just remember to focus on what's important about any holiday to you--don't worry about what the neighbors are doing or what Grandma wants you to do. By making the holiday personal, your child will come to love the meaning of the day and look forward to each new year and the opportunity to celebrate.
askteacherpam
Welcome to Ask Teacher Pam! As an Early Childhood educator, recently retired, I get lots of questions from young friends and acquaintances who are now parents and want to do "the right thing" when it comes to raising their children. It's very gratifying that so many young families are truly interested in taking the time to explore any issue that concerns their children, and not just do what's easy or do "what everyone else is doing." Watch this blog for a variety of topics, from toilet learning to school separation to "the picky eater." And, of course, I'm here to answer any question you may want to ask, so, go ahead--"Ask Teacher Pam."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)