The Right Way to Read

Sometimes, it's the most simple but strategic approach that works, even with kids. For example, reading to kids using a particular method and incorporating basic items like colors, glue and scissors can make a lasting impression on a child.

I read to my toddler as much as possible, but according to research and a literacy expert with the Junior League of Atlanta, I can't do it enough, and there is an approach that works better than just reading the words off a page.

"When you read to child for about 20 minutes a day, it exposes them to a variety of words like delicious and scrumptious instead of just tasty," said Dawn Haynie, chairperson of the Junior League of Atlanta's Journey to Literacy initiative.  Haynie, mother to children ages 2, 5 and 6, has incorporated many of the techniques that she's learned from early childhood professionals at the Buckhead-based Atlanta Speech School. She's seen a drastic improvement in the vocabulary of her children. 

Books expose children to words we are less likely to use, plus we just enjoy them in stories, she continued.

But, it's more than just increasing a child's vocabulary. Research suggests reading and increased vocabulary establish a foundation for success in children early on.

According to Voices for Georgia's Children, a nonprofit organization that works to ensure the well-being of children, for every $1 spent on education for children in their first five years of life, we save $7.16 in the mitigating youth and adult programming necessary later.   

Facts from the Ferst Foundation, an organization based in Madison, Ga., that provides books to children to promote reading and literacy, echo a similar sentiment. According to that group, one third of Georgia’s schoolchildren come unprepared to learn, and people in the United States who are illiterate represent 75 percent of the unemployed, 33 percent of mothers receiving aid, 85 percent of juveniles who appear in court, and 60 percent of prison inmates. 

Furthermore, the same foundation says that illiteracy and low literacy workers cost Atlanta $2.6 billion each year; and these workers cost Georgia businesses $7 billion each year.

As part of the Journey to Literacy program, the Junior League of Atlanta, which is based in Buckhead, teaches technique and vocabulary integration at several libraries including branches in Sandy Springs, Georgia Hill and Washington Park.

As part of the program, volunteers read the first half hour of time, and parents are invited to bring their children and stay with them. "We read the story to children the first time and emphasize particular vocabulary," said Haynie. "Then, we break into groups or centers that focus on an activity related to the story like crafts to work on fine motor skills. Usually the activities involve crayons or puzzles, and we also work on other cognitive skills. All this is done while talking with the parents and explaining the reason behind what we are doing.

"It's critical to engage the children in conversation because we want them to use the language. At the end, we give each child a book," she said.

Some additional tips from the Junior League of Atlanta include:

• Select an age appropriate book for the child. For children age 3, select a book that focuses on counting or those that develop simple stories. For pre-schoolers, select more complex stories with elaborate illustrations and descriptive stories.
• Ask open-ended questions about the book and make it fun.
• If possible, let the child read the book on their own, at his or her own pace and in his or her own way.
• Remember that after reading, you can use crafts to develop children's fine motor skills and help them prepare for writing. By using crayons or markers, you can teach a child to hold a pencil in a fun, comfortable way.

It seems to me that this rich experience would also contribute to a positive relationship as well as something parents can enjoy. So, this weekend, pull out the crayons and get the glue. It's time for a little arts and crafts and reading, too.