Tip 86 – Use real books to teach real information.

Select a book that you think your child will both enjoy and understand. Read it sentence-by-sentence or paragraph-by-paragraph to your child. After each sentence or paragraph either explain what it means or ask your child if he or she understands.

Keep in mind that you are communicating ideas, thoughts, and information and not testing your child or putting him or her on the spot in any way. Many books have ideas, thoughts, and information in them that are over the heads of children and need to be explained. You might even find specific vocabulary words that need to be made clear.

Parenting Insight…

There are many different reasons for reading out loud to children. For each reason there are many different kinds of books to select. For this particular activity choose a book that you think will be of particular interest to your child. Here are some popular topics–planes, trains, cars, presidents, dolls, different cultures, etc. The list goes on.

*Adapted from Make Your Own Preschool Games: A Personalized Play and Learn Program by Sally Goldberg, pp. 193-194

November! The Month of Giving Thanks

Just the thought of Thanksgiving makes many people happy. Here are some of the traditional ways that people get reminded of all their blessings at this time of year:

• the smell of hot apple cider
• the taste of warm apple pie
• the practice of unique family traditions

Happy thoughts and joyous feelings create a sense of gratitude.

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