Tips for reading with your child from an early age
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heir bodies may be small, But their brains are quick to grow, With thousands of new synapses Forming daily; it’s quite a show! Give your child a great start in life!
As mothers and fathers And grandparents too, School-readying a child’s mind Is a big task for you. While there are plenty of resources For helping kids to prepare, There’s one foolproof trick That we’d really like to share. Because no matter your income, Or language spoken at home, Reading equals succeeding World studies have shown. Just reading together For 15 minutes, day or night, Can help your child succeed Both in school, and later life. So in this booklet you’re holding We´re sure that you’ll find, Reading tips from birth to five To help your little one’s growing mind.
Top Tips
• Talk to your baby about the pictures as you turn
each page and wonder aloud what might happen (ask and answer your own questions).
rom the very first moment That they open their little eyes, Babies begin learning About the big, wide world outside. By reading to your child And snuggling in close, You’ll comfort and reassure them That they’re loved the most. Choose books filled with songs And classic nursery rhymes, To sing to your baby Before bedtime arrives. They’ll recognise your voice, And learn to make new sounds, And mimic your expressions From laughter to frowns. And while they might be too little To help turn the page, They’ll nonetheless be learning From the earliest possible age.
• Keep books in your nappy bag and child’s play area, so your baby associates these with playtime. • Choose books with sounds, textured panels, or flaps to lift, as babies love these!
Top Pick
Baby Animals Feel and Find Fun Find these books and more at kidsbookclub.com.au!
Newborn to 1 year old
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• Black and white picture books are great for newborns, as their eyes can’t yet see colour very well.
Top Tips • Snuggle in with your child, and let them help you hold the book and turn the pages.
right colours and animals Good rhythm and rhyme, Help hold a toddler’s interest (At least for a short time!) Featuring everyday items Like car, dog, and rabbit, Books help children learn About the world that they inhabit. Try making animal noises When reading about the zoo, And encourage your little one To try making these sounds too. Your child’s growing fingers Can now help hold the book, And point to the next animal If you ask them to look. They can also open flaps And find things hiding there too, Which might be the prompt For a game of peek-a-boo!
• Choose books with lift-and-see panels, or that feature lots of different sounds. • Encourage your child to copy the sounds of the words and noises in your book.
Top Pick Dear Zoo
Find these books and more at kidsbookclub.com.au!
Aged 1- 2 years old
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Top Tips • Ask your child to identify objects and animals that you’ve read about, both at home and on your outings.
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s their personalities develop And their curiosity grows, Books are great for explaining The things kids need to know! There are books for letters and colours And for numbers and counting, And for answering all the questions That we’re sure will keep on mounting!
• Take books with you on outdoor adventures too. They can sometimes provide a much needed distraction! • Incorporate your child’s favourite characters into your playtime activities, perhaps through drawing or role play.
Top Pick
Spot goes to School
Find these books and more at kidsbookclub.com.au!
Choose simple stories With repeated words and phrases, And your child will soon learn When it’s their turn to say them. And don’t forget about your books When it comes time to play, Try drawing or dressing up as Your favourite character from that day.
Aged 2 - 3 years old
You child’s new language skills, Can be strengthened with rhyme, And by repeating key questions Like “Where’s Spot hiding this time?”
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ow comes the age When imaginations start to soar, There are new friends to meet And new worlds to explore. Books of humour and wit, Of adventure and make-believe Will help show your child Just how fun reading can be! Inspire creative thinking By pausing after each text, And ask them to imagine What they think might happen next.
Top Tips • Ask your child to choose a story to read each day, and spend at least 20 minutes reading with each other. • Encourage your child to make up their own stories, perhaps based on their favourite characters. • Talk about the similarities and differences between the stories and your own life and home.
Top Pick
There’s a Sea in my Bedroom
Find these books and more at kidsbookclub.com.au!
There’s nothing too fantastic, Ridiculous or absurd When it comes to imagination So encourage every word!
Aged 3 - 4 years old
You can also encourage them To “read” books on their own, And to tell you what happens In the stories they now know.
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ow as your child Begins preparing for school They’ll find things on their own They think are interesting – and cool! Maybe they’ll develop A fascination with outer-space, You could explore the stars together, From a quiet, cosy place. As their horizons keep expanding, Their stories grow more complex, To encompass the diversity Of the world that they reflect.
Top Tips • Sound out the letters and words as you read together - your child might recognise many letters in the alphabet soon and be able to play ‘I Spy...’ and other alphabet games. • Practice the alphabet by writing short letters to each other, and “posting” them in your mailbox.
• Visit your local library to find more books on the topics your child is especially interested in.
Top Pick
Stanley Paste
Because after reading so much together Your child will have begun to accrue The literacy skills they need, To start reading books to you!
Find these books and more at kidsbookclub.com.au!
Aged 4 - 5 years old
And as you keep reading You might notice something strange, Perhaps your child becomes impatient, For you to hurry, and turn the page.
great reasons to join the Kids’ Book Club
Give your child a head start in school and a lifelong love of books! Help build your child’s early literacy skills by joining the Kids’ Book Club. Each month they’ll receive a great new book, chosen by our panel of early literacy specialists for your child’s age and stage of development. But that’s just the start of this story. Every membership to the Kids’ Book Club also supports United Way Australia’s early literacy programs for children in disadvantaged Australian communities. Your child’s membership means other children will improve their early literacy skills too, through our program that delivers quality, age appropriate children’s books (just like the ones your child will receive), supports parents to increase shared reading at home, and facilitates community activities that spread the love of reading far and wide.
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More books at home = the foundation for your child to succeed in school. 2. Your child’s membership enables kids in disadvantaged Australian communities to access an early literacy program that gives them a great start in life too! 3. Your child will love receiving a new book in the post each month. 4. They’ll also love the time spent discovering new worlds with you. 5. You can be confident that each book is hand picked by early literacy specialists to inspire, engage and educate children, from newborns to 8 years old. 6. The monthly “book buddy” postcard sent with your child’s book will help build their social awareness. 7. 90% of brain development occurs by the age of 5.
www.kidsbookclub.com.au 1300 780 345
In Australia today, almost 1 in 4 children start school without the basic skills needed to learn to read. Sadly, most of these kids will never catch up. The good news is that reading daily to a child from an early age dramatically improves their literacy skills, and their chances to succeed both in school and later life. That’s why United Way Australia is expanding early literacy programs to disadvantaged children and communities across the country.
GIVE YOUR CHILD A HEAD START IN SCHOOL, AND IN LIFE! This booklet was produced by United Way Australia, with reading tips from our literacy and early learning experts to help parents and young children maximise the benefits of shared reading. Thank you to ExxonMobil Australia for financially supporting this booklet.
ENSURING EVERY CHILD CAN READ, LEARN AND SUCCEED IN LIFE.