How to Share Books with Your Children
4 Years Old
4 Year Olds Can:
- Tell you which books they want to read with you
- Pretend to read a favorite book out loud to you
- Tell you how a story is like things they have seen or done
- Ask questions about books you read together
- Correct you if you skip a page or even a word in their favorite book
- Tell you the story in their favorite book in their own words
- Begin to name the first letters in some of the words you read together
You Can:
- Find a quiet, cozy place to cuddle up with a few good books
- Ask your child to tell you about the pictures and the story
- Respond with interest to your child’s questions and comments
- Talk about emotions in pictures and stories
- Ask your child to solve problems in the stories
- Ask your child to show you all the things that are alike in some way
- Point out colors, shapes, numbers and letters. Ask your child to find them
- Point out written words in the world around you. Ask your child to find a new word each time you’re out and about
- Take your child to the library to choose books
5 Years Old
5 Year Olds Can:
- Tell you which book they want to read with you
- Tell you how a story makes them feel.
- Tell you how a story is like things they have seen/done
- Ask questions about books you are enjoying together
- Begin to name the first letters in some of the words, learn the sounds too
- Predict what might happen next in the story
- Make a favorite story into a play
You Can:
- Find a quiet, cozy place to cuddle up with a few good books
- Ask your child to tell you about the pictures and the story
- Respond with interest to your child’s questions & comments
- Ask your child to show you all the things in a picture that are alike
- Ask your child to solve problems in stories
- Talk about emotions in pictures and stories
- Point out colors, shapes, letters and numbers in their books
- Point out written words in the world around you
Take your child to the library