There is so Much to Explore this Spring!
Reading Time: 2 min
Spring is a great time to learn about seasonal happenings in the area where you live. One idea that is popular among educators and caregivers is to choose a new theme each week during spring months for children to explore. Choosing seasonal subjects such as animal babies, weather or flowers, is a great way to connect with nature and the changing seasons. Most local libraries highlight seasonal book selections that can be useful in keeping things new and interesting every week.
Storytelling to further peak their interest
When reading a spring-themed book, think about stories from your own childhood that relate to the story. You could even tell a story that you heard from your own parents or grandparents when you were young. This creates lasting memories that have the potential to last many generations.
Ask the child to visualize the story before you begin to read
Asking a child to visualize the setting of a book is a great place to start. Asking things like “What colors do you see? What do you smell? What sounds do you hear? Is it sunny or rainy?” are all effective in setting the scene. Research shows that visualizing a story activates a child’s brain in a different way than with a picture book. Benefits of visualization include enhanced imagination, increased vocabulary and communication skills.
Engage with your child while reading
This is a fun and simple way to make a book truly come to life. Act out the voices of the main characters, add sound effects to create a sense of drama and emphasize repetitive phrases that come up consistently throughout the story. These are all engaging ways to keep a child’s attention from beginning to end, leaving them wanting more!
An online reading app will create a visual adventure
Online reading apps like Lou Adventures are the best way to engage visual learners and reluctant readers. But no matter how willing (or unwilling) your child is to read, following Lou the dog through his online adventure to find answers to clues is a fun way to increase reading fluency and comprehension. Children immediately engage with the story and the adventure, they often have no idea that it's improving reading skills that will last a lifetime.
