Numerous research studies have indicated that children whose parents regularly read to them during the early childhood years will generally do better in school. That's why the Student Services  team at HKIS encourages parents to read aloud to their children.

A child's parents are the most important resource for developing a love of reading.

Here are some of the things your child can learn while you read a story aloud:

Vocabulary: As you read, your child is acquiring new words. Let him/her see the pictures in the book. Point to an object as you read its name. See if he/she can point to some objects which you name.

Information: Your child is also acquiring new knowledge and expanding the horizons of his/her mind. Reading helps to open a whole new world for him/her.

Comprehension:. From books a child acquires new understanding of his/her world. He/she perceives new relationships between words and can relate new knowledge to what he/she already knows.

Listening and attention skills: Reading helps to sharpen your child's listening skills and improve his/her attention span.

Mental awareness:. As a result of your reading to him/her, he/she will also likely become more aware of and take greater interest in his/her everyday surrounding.

Sequencing: From your reading he/she can learn about sequencing in time ("Once upon a time...") and in space ("In the first place sat...") which are important skills for school learning.

Emotions: As he/she identifies with the characters in the story, she can sometimes gain a better understanding of he/her own emotions.

Love of books: As you read to your child, you are imparting an important value in your life, namely, your own love of books and reading.

Questions? Please contact the Student Services Center.
Last updated: December 08, 2000.