Read Me a Story-Again!

As we finish reading a story to a child, grown-ups often groan when they hear the words, “read it again!” Many of us grownups tire of reading the same books over and over, but repeated reading is actually very good for young children.

Children learn important things from hearing a book again and again. They learn basic grammar and story structure. They also learn new vocabulary words and learn to associate the words with the illustrations on the page. In time, they will be able to tell the story themselves using visual clues of the illustrations

Children who hear and retell stories refine their retellings until their memory of the words they have heard is so close to the text that they correct themselves as they read the story. Although their “reading” is primarily recitation rather than word identification, they gradually associate the text with the words they are saying.

As children’s stories turn into the memories, the newer words and phrases appear in their vocabulary. A child inspired by Bill Martin Junior’s “brown bear Brown bear what do you see” may ask a friend, Tiffany Tiffany what do you see? Or having just read Eric Carl’s ” very hungry caterpillar” a child they say on ” Monday I ate a sandwich but I was still hungry .@ 

To develop into lifelong readers, children need opportunities to learn to love books. What better way than snuggling up as mom dad or another family member or teacher read your favorite book again?

The kids current favorite real loud that they tend to repeat is “The Book With No Pictures.” See our Facebook group for video !