Books open so many doors to learning for anyone. It’s important to keep books readily accessible to your child. Their interest may change overtime, so be flexible with what they choose. Let your child “read” to you even if they are making up the story. Connecting images to words helps them learn how to organize and communicate their thoughts.
Read With Your Child
Reading with your child is a special bonding experience for both of you. It will also be a boost to your ego as they laugh when you make the characters engaging by changing your tone, pace and expression. Talk about objects in the story, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to use “big” words. When you ask questions, make sure to leave plenty of time for their young brains to process and form a response. They will likely want to read the same story over and over and OVER. Just grin and bear it. Repetition builds memory, confidence, and helps with prediction. Singing songs and reading rhymes will also help your child become sensitive to the sounds in words.
If your kiddo isn’t interested in hearing the whole story, it’s okay. Some books are better read in small sections. Most young children have difficulty sitting still long enough to read a story. Let them move around. They are still listening. It’s good to gradually build up their stamina when it comes to listening to stories. Start small. When you notice that they are able to focus, gradually add more stories that have more words.
Local Public Library
Your local library is a valuable resource if you are homeschooling. We visited our library every week for story time. Story time typically includes age appropriate songs, rhymes, crafts and, of course, a few stories (and you don’t have to do any of the work!) It’s a great way to provide social interaction opportunities for your child. It is also a great way for you to meet other parents and share tips, set up play dates, or just have an adult conversation! And of course, libraries contain a constant supply of free books and resources for you to borrow.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Sign up to get a FREE book every month until your child is in kindergarten! I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful this program is! We received such high quality, award-winning, and beautifully illustrated stories. You can receive a free book every month for each child from birth – to kindergarten. Dolly Parton is a saint!
https://montessori150.org/maria-montessori/montessori-photos
Maria Montessori discouraged fairy tales. She felt that books based in reality are more important. Young children are still learning about the world and may not understand the difference between reality and fantasy. The beauty of homeschool is that you don’t have to strictly follow one specific theory. In my home, we read all kinds of books because we wanted to help spark a love of reading. We didn’t want to limit access to any books. A large majority of children’s books are fictional and have appealing illustrations and beautiful literature. We made an effort to point out things while we read such as, “Oh look. How silly. That bear is talking and riding a bicycle. Bear’s don’t do that. What do bears do?” I feel that as long as you help your child learn what is real and not real, that reading such books should not be a problem in their development. I have made some book lists that you can explore and take with you on your next library visit. You can also visit my shop on Bookshop.org if you would like to see a more comprehensive list to browse.
(You can always find these books at your local library for free. However, if you choose to purchase them, you can support your local bookstores (and this blog) from the affiliate links below.)