In 2010 World Read Aloud Day was founded by the non-profit organization LitWorld in order to promote and celebrate of the power of reading aloud and oral storytelling and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right.
Reading aloud is just another tool which we can use to unlock a love of reading in children and to connect our future leaders with the power of literacy and education! Reading aloud can also create beautiful bonds between children and their caretakers that last well into adulthood by creating a special time when the focus is only each other.
But don't just take my word for it, there's been research done on the life-long benefits of reading aloud. Did you know that?
- More than 80% of kids love reading aloud or being read to!
- Reading aloud to children puts them almost a year ahead of children who do not receive daily read-alouds, regardless of parental income, education level or cultural background. In fact, research shows that reading aloud is the single most important thing a caretaker can do to prepare a child to learn and to read on their own.
- Even just 15 minutes of reading aloud per day (over 90 hours in a year) can do wonders to inspire a love of reading and expand a child's vocabulary. Studies have show that the number of words a child knows when entering kindergarten is predictive of the success in learning throughout life.
- Reading can also have life-long effects. Poorly-literate individuals are less likely to participate in democratic processes and have fewer chances to fully exercise their civil rights.
Feeling inspired yet? I know I am!
So that we can all celebrate World Read Aloud Day 2021 (February 3rd) together, here are some tips and tricks for getting the most from your read aloud sessions and some great books to practice with!
Get Hands On - Let your little one hold the book, and turn the pages. They'll feel connected to the activity and it's a perfect opportunity to show them how to care for a book. Board books are perfect for our youngest learners as the thick cardboard pages are made to hold up to baby's touch and some even have great textures!
No Words, No Problem - Usually reading implies the need for words, but oral storytelling can offer all the same advantages to children as being read to! Books with few or no words can be easy to get through for little ones with the wiggles but can also inspire you and your child to get creative and make up a story to go along with the pictures!
Feel The Rhythm, Feel The Rhyme - Can't remember the grocery list you wrote this morning but have the lyrics to thousands of songs in your head at all times? That's because rhythm and rhyme help the human brain to retain language! Books with rhyme, rhythm, and repetition will inspire young ones to join in and anticipate the next word.
Interactivity Is The Key - One of the best things about reading aloud is that it offers opportunities to interact for the reader and the one being read to. Make funny voices, use sound effects, and ask your child to guess what happens next! At a loss for ideas? There are lots of books that offer built-in interactivity that shows you just what to do!
Laughter Is The Best Medicine - When all else fails, go for the jokes! Silly books that inspire laughter will always be a hit with readers of every age.
Want the benefits of reading aloud to your little one but just don't have the time? Never fear, the library has your back with a multitude of audio options for your family.
Audio books on CD are great for car rides when the whole family wants to listen.
Readalong books have audio built into the books themselves, just hit play and you're ready to go.
Overdrive and the Libby app also offer digital eBooks with Read-along audio narration if you can't make it to your local library.
Sources: LitWorld, Scholastic, Globe Trottin' Kids, Read Aloud 15 Minutes