Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well

Parents often face the question of whether or not their child is ready to begin kindergarten. Parents want their children to begin school with the knowledge they need to learn and function in a new environment.

Reading to children, beginning at birth, is one way to help them become ready for school. The early years of life set the stage for later development, and reading stories can build positive attitudes towards reading and learning to read. Reading can also stimulate children's learning.

Everything that you do as a parent is a learning experience for young children. Reading to your child is also a good time for personal interaction.

The special time spent reading with a child often allows the parent and child to bond. Spending time together reading also teaches the child social and educational skills.

Reading books to children increases their listening and speaking skills, letter and symbol recognition, ability to form and use more complex sentences, understanding of words and ideas, and developing positive attitudes towards reading. All these abilities strengthen a child's readiness to begin school.

If parents instill the love of books, an interest in learning to read will follow. Infants should be introduced to reading as early as birth. Babies enjoy sharing books while cuddling on a parent's lap. Even though infants cannot understand everything that is being read, they are learning many words that will form the basis for language. With time, they begin to understand that words have meaning and can be used to identify objects.

The ideal books for babies age three to six months should have simple, large pictures or designs. The parent can tell a story about the picture if there are no words. This is a good time to introduce the language of nursery rhymes. Cloth and vinyl books are especially good for this age, because they are lightweight and easy for the baby to hold.

Babies age seven to nine months are beginning to develop hand skills, which enable them to turn the pages of books. Books with thick, stiff pages are easier for babies to turn. Babies age nine to 12 months begin to look at the book's content rather than its physical characteristics. They begin to understand, recognize and relate objects and events. Pictures which contain familiar objects and activities are likely to be favorites.

Babies aged 12 to 18 months begin to sing, and they often enjoy books with songs. The actual story is beginning to be of interest. Keep the stories simple. Books should relate to events the child can easily understand. Toddlers and older children really begin to understand and enjoy reading books. Pictures can now be packed with information and action.

Storybooks intended for this age will often have a picture on every page with only a small number of words. Children will spend a lot of time looking at the pictures. Keeping developmental stages in mind will help you to choose books for infants and children. They will enjoy the time you spend sharing a book.

Reading to children can help increase their readiness for kindergarten, and they learn many skills through reading. Most of all, it is an opportunity for you and your child to spend time together.

For additional information concerning the stages of early childhood development contact the Nevada County Cooperative Extension Service at 887-2818.