Shared book reading, interactive reading between a child and an adult, is a powerful and engaging way to support language development across all ages. The benefits of shared book reading are astounding and include:
- Expanding vocabulary
- Strengthening comprehension skills
- Boosting expressive language
- Developing phonological awareness
- Encouraging social communication
- Supporting prediction and reasoning skills
- Improving attention and listening skills
- Strengthening narrative skills
To make the most of your shared reading time, here are a few key strategies that promote optimal speech and language growth:
- Positioning Matters
Hold the book in front of you, facing the child. This allows him to clearly see your facial expressions and mouth movements, which are important visual cues that support sound and word learning.
- Slow Down Your Speech
Take your time while reading! Children process language more effectively when it’s delivered slowly. Research suggests that 120-124 words per minute is ideal (Hearing Health & Technology Matters, 2013). This is the rate that Mr. Rogers used in his speech. Don’t be afraid to pause. Giving your child time to think and respond is just as important as the words you say.
- Match Your Reading to Your Child’s Language Level
How you read will vary depending on your child’s age and language level.
- Infants: May flip pages randomly or hold the book upside down.
- What you can do: Gently turn the book upright, help turn pages, and label pictures. You don’t need to read every word on every page, just talk about what you see!
- Toddlers and Young children: are ready for more interaction
- What you can do: Talk about the title, author, illustrator. Make predictions based on the cover. As you read, describe actions, explain new words, label emotions, and ask open-ended questions. Let your child lead by responding to his interests and staying at his level.
- Embrace Repetition
Yes, reading the same book over and over is a good thing! Repetition supports vocabulary learning, strengthens memory, reinforces story structure, and builds confidence! As your child becomes more familiar with the story, pause occasionally and let him fill in missing words or phrases. You might be surprised at the new language he uses!
By creating a warm, engaging, and interactive reading routine, you’re doing so much more than just reading a story. You’re building the foundation for strong communication skills that will last a lifetime.
For examples on how to incorporate these strategies, follow Masonic Children’s Clinic YouTube page and look for Reading with Rina videos.
