I can remember that reading to preschoolers can be fun and also frustrating. Let me explain.
My then pre-schooler son Justin reads with his Grandma Thorp
Reading to my own children when they were three and four years old was enjoyable. They were now able to sit longer. The books that we read together were getting a bit longer and had simple plots which made it more interesting for me and them.
Ask them questions about what they read
Now that preschoolers can talk and answer questions, it is a good time to start asking them questions about what you read. Simple where, when and who questions work great. However, asking them why questions will increase their higher level thinking skills and you might be surprised at what they will come up with for an answer.
It is also a great time to introduce them to the idea of making predictions. Ask them what they think may happen next. Then say, “Let’s read to find out.” This helps them learn that there is a purpose to keep reading, we want to find out if our prediction is true. Just make sure that they understand that it is okay to make wrong predictions. The point is not whether their prediction is right or wrong, but that they are thinking about what may happen. (As adults we do this all the time while we watch movies or read books.)
Two predictable books that are among my favorites are “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” and “Polar Bear, Polar Bear”. Your child will love guessing what the next animal will be and once they have heard the book several times, they will enjoy telling you what the next animal will be.
However, sometimes reading to preschoolers may be frustrating too.
- Your preschooler may like the book you picked because he just may not be interested in that story. If that is the case, let your child pick the books. It is more important that your preschooler enjoys reading.
- Your preschooler may not want to sit long enough to have a story read or may rather be on the floor with a toy car than on your lap. Well, that’s okay too. Read shorter books or read right before bed when they are more mellow. Some children can listen to stories very well as they are sitting on the floor playing with a toy car. In fact, if your child may even be able to listen better if he is doing something with his hands.
Because today is the anniversary of the birth of Dr. Seuss, I just wanted to share what an excellent choice his books are for preschoolers. Here are three of my favorites:
As always, I invite your comments or questions. Happy reading!