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Reach Out & Read

Reach-Out-and-Read-at-Crossing-Rivers-Health-Clinic-in-Prairie-du-Chien-and-Fennimore-Wisconsin

Reading Tips

Reach Out and Read encourages all parents to make reading with their children part of their daily routine.

General tips

  • Make reading part of every day, even for just a few minutes.
  • Have fun.
  • Talk about the pictures. You do not have to read the book to tell a story.
  • Let your child turn the pages.
  • Show your child the cover page. Explain what the story is about.
  • Run your finger along the words as you read them.
  • Silly sounds, especially animal sounds, are fun to make.
  • Choose books about events in your child's life such as starting preschool, going to the dentist, getting a new pet, or moving to a new home.
  • Make the story come alive. Create voices for the story characters.
  • Ask questions about the story. What do you think will happen next? What is this?
  • Let your child ask questions about the story. Talk about familiar activities and objects.
  • Let your child retell the story.
  • Visit your local library often.

Reading with Your Baby

  • Hold your baby on your lap while you read.
  • Babies like board books; pictures of babies; rhymes and songs from the same book over and over; and when you point at pictures - this is how babies learn!

Reading with Your 1-Year-Old

  • Let your toddler move around while you are reading.
  • Name the pictures - this is how toddlers learn new words.
  • Read labels and signs wherever you go.
  • Toddlers like the same book over and over; a book at bedtime; to choose and hold the book; books about food, trucks, animals, and children; and books with a few words.

Reading with Your 2-Year-Old

  • Read labels and signs wherever you go.
  • Keep different books around the house and let your child choose.
  • Two-year-olds like to help turn the pages; to fill in the words in a story they know; to point and name pictures; to hear the same book over and over; books that are silly; and animal books and animal noises.

Reading with Your Preschool Child

  • Have your child sit close or on your lap while reading.
  • Ask questions about the story.
  • Let your child tell you stories.
  • Make weekly visits to the children's room at the library so your child can choose more books.
  • Children like longer books that tell stories; books without words; alphabet and counting books; books about families, friends, and going to school; and a book at bedtime.

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