Our answer is simply...YES!!!
Rather than wait for the researchers to show you the results, our suggestion is that your family use every opportunity available to help children develop the habit of reading.
Supporting reading development over the holidays (and weekends) can be done in ways that tap into children's own interests and imaginations. If you are a teacher, then you (and your school) can do much to set the stage for children's engagement in literacy over the holiday season. It is important for teachers (and parents) to encourage children to check out books from the school library to read over the holidays (and weekends).
Before the start of a holiday season, schools can host workshops for parents where teachers share suggestions for keeping children engaged. In some cases, it is easier to get parents to attend holiday programs than workshops. Schools can use these opportunities to convince parents about the need to encourage their child to read at home.
Here are some specific tips for helping children to read during the holidays (and weekends). If you are a teacher, then share these with the parents of your students.
Tips for Helping Beginning Readers
- Load your home with books and reading materials that reflect the holiday.
- Read short passages several times to your child until they can read it with you. Then encourage them to read the passage to you.
Encourage older children to read with younger children. - Let your child see you reading books, magazines, and newspapers.
- When watching television, have the captioning feature turned-on so that your child can view the words while hearing them performed aloud.
Tips for Helping Advanced Readers
- Talk to your child about what he or she is reading. Ask open-ended questions such as "What do you think about that story?" "What would you have done if you were that character?"
- Visit the public library. Help your child to get his or her own library card.
- Encourage your child to select books that reflect the holiday.
- Read to your child regularly, even after your child is able to read some books independently.
- Listen to your child read and praise their efforts at reading.
