Post by title1parent on Jun 23, 2010 5:10:43 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/schools/2420642,6_5_NA23_LAPSIT_S1-100623.article
'It's never too early to read'
Library's lapsit gives babies chance to develop love of reading
June 23, 2010
By JANE DONAHUE For Sun-Times Media
Jack Melone's first lesson in reading didn't happen in a classroom. In fact, this 8-month-old was introduced to reading before he was even born.
"I was a teacher, so I think it is really important to start the literacy exposure at a very early age," Stephanie Melone said. "We read every day and every night."
Jack and his mom, Stephanie, joined others at the Naperville Public Library for the lapsit story time, aimed at infants up to 23 months. During the weekly 20-minute session, little ones along with a parent or caregiver explore adventures through interactive reading.
Dr. Dana Brazdziunas, developmental behavioral pediatrician with Central DuPage Hospital, said when children are exposed to dialogical reading, their language skills improve and they are better prepared to learn to read.
Dialogical reading is the technique whereby the child becomes an active participant in reading a book, versus the traditional method of a parent reading and a child listening.
"Reading to your child is not just reading a book, it's interacting with your child," Brazdziunas said. "It's having the child point to pictures, or name pictures, and developing a conversation about the story. When you read in this fashion, called dialogical reading, it does make a difference."
Celeste Giles, children services librarian at the Naperville Public Library, said during the lapsit program, facilitators model how to read interactively to babies.
"So much of what we do on a daily basis lays a foundation for reading later," Giles said. "We are really teaching pre-reading skills, and it's a fun and natural way of doing it."
Melone said the lapsit story time gives parents tools to use on their own.
"I think they provided a really good model for parents to follow at home," Melone said. "It shows that reading is not just about books -- it includes poems, songs and just vocabulary instruction. I think that is really important, too."
Reading specialist Hillary Gibson of Clow Elementary School said it's never too early to start reading to your child.
"Participating in early literacy activities like the ones suggested by the Naperville Public Library can help to develop important building blocks for reading, including phonemic awareness and oral language skills," Gibson said. "These skills are crucial for beginning readers."
Besides improving literacy, there are other benefits that can last well into adulthood.
"Reading to a child from an early age can help to develop a lifelong love of reading and books," Gibson said, "and reading aloud is a great way to spend time with your child and explore his or her interests."
Consider curling up with a good book, and sharing it with a little one. It's never too early to read.
'It's never too early to read'
Library's lapsit gives babies chance to develop love of reading
June 23, 2010
By JANE DONAHUE For Sun-Times Media
Jack Melone's first lesson in reading didn't happen in a classroom. In fact, this 8-month-old was introduced to reading before he was even born.
"I was a teacher, so I think it is really important to start the literacy exposure at a very early age," Stephanie Melone said. "We read every day and every night."
Jack and his mom, Stephanie, joined others at the Naperville Public Library for the lapsit story time, aimed at infants up to 23 months. During the weekly 20-minute session, little ones along with a parent or caregiver explore adventures through interactive reading.
Dr. Dana Brazdziunas, developmental behavioral pediatrician with Central DuPage Hospital, said when children are exposed to dialogical reading, their language skills improve and they are better prepared to learn to read.
Dialogical reading is the technique whereby the child becomes an active participant in reading a book, versus the traditional method of a parent reading and a child listening.
"Reading to your child is not just reading a book, it's interacting with your child," Brazdziunas said. "It's having the child point to pictures, or name pictures, and developing a conversation about the story. When you read in this fashion, called dialogical reading, it does make a difference."
Celeste Giles, children services librarian at the Naperville Public Library, said during the lapsit program, facilitators model how to read interactively to babies.
"So much of what we do on a daily basis lays a foundation for reading later," Giles said. "We are really teaching pre-reading skills, and it's a fun and natural way of doing it."
Melone said the lapsit story time gives parents tools to use on their own.
"I think they provided a really good model for parents to follow at home," Melone said. "It shows that reading is not just about books -- it includes poems, songs and just vocabulary instruction. I think that is really important, too."
Reading specialist Hillary Gibson of Clow Elementary School said it's never too early to start reading to your child.
"Participating in early literacy activities like the ones suggested by the Naperville Public Library can help to develop important building blocks for reading, including phonemic awareness and oral language skills," Gibson said. "These skills are crucial for beginning readers."
Besides improving literacy, there are other benefits that can last well into adulthood.
"Reading to a child from an early age can help to develop a lifelong love of reading and books," Gibson said, "and reading aloud is a great way to spend time with your child and explore his or her interests."
Consider curling up with a good book, and sharing it with a little one. It's never too early to read.