The Importance of reading with your child

Stories are a very big part of our family. I used to read to my son when I was pregnant with him. Ever since he was a little baby we would all sit together and read stories. In the beginning he used to just love sitting or laying there with us looking at all the bright colours in the books, next he would start pointing at things and then start naming objekts that he was familiar with. Over time books have become a tradition and a special time. I encourage you to read a lot with your child, because they really benefit from it. I would also love to know about the books that have found a special place in your familie.
here is a very interesting article that I found on the subjekt.

By Bernice Cullinan & Brod Bagert
Helping Your Child Learn to Read (1996). Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.
http://www.rif.org/parents/articles/ReadingWithChild.mspx

There is no more important activity for preparing your child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together. Fill your story times with a variety of books. Be consistent, be patient and watch the magic work.

Home is Where the Heart Is
It's no secret that activities at home are an important supplement to the
classroom, but there's more to it than that. There are things that parents
can give children at home that the classrooms cannot give.

Start Young and Stay With It
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at pictures, listen to your
voice and point to objects on cardboard pages. Guide your child by
pointing to the pictures, and say the names of the various objects. By
drawing attention to pictures and associating the words with both pictures and the real-world objects, your child will learn the importance of language.
Children learn to love the sound of language before they even notice
the existence of printed words on a page. Reading books aloud to
children stimulates their imagination and expands their understanding of
the world. It helps them develop language and listening skills and
prepares them to understand the written word. When the rhythm and
melody of language become a part of a child's life, learning to read will be
as natural as learning to walk and talk.

Even after children learn to read by themselves, it's still important for you to
read aloud together. By reading stories that are on their interest level, but
beyond their reading level, you can stretch young readers' understanding
and motivate them to improve their skills.

It's Part of Life
Although the life of a parent is often hectic, you should try to read with your
child at least once a day at a regularly scheduled time. But don't be
discouraged if you skip a day or don't always keep to your schedule.
Just read to your child as often as you possibly can.

If you have more than one child, try to spend some time reading alone with
each child, especially if they're more than two years apart.
However, it's also fine to read to children at different stages and ages at the
same time. Most children enjoy listening to many types of stories.
When stories are complex, children can still get the idea and can be
encouraged to ask questions. When stories are easy or familiar,
youngsters enjoy these "old friends" and may even help in the reading.

Taking the time to read with your children on a regular basis sends an
important message: reading is worthwhile.

One More Time
You may go through a period when your child favors one book and wants it
read night after night. It is not unusual for children to favor a particular
story, and this can be boring for parents. Keep in mind,
however, that a favorite story may speak to your child's interests or
emotional needs. Be patient. Continue to expose your children to a wealth
of books and eventually they will be ready for more stories.

Talking About Stories
It's often a good idea to talk about a story you are reading, but you need not
feel compelled to talk about every story. Good stories will encourage a
love for reading, with or without conversation. And sometimes children need
time to think about stories they have read. A day or so later, don't be
surprised if your child mentions something from a story
you've read together.

Remember When You Were Very Young
It will help, however, if we open our eyes to some things adult readers tend to
take for granted. It's easier to be patient when we remember how
much children do not know. Here are a few concepts we adults know so
well we forget sometimes we ever learned them.

There's a difference between words and pictures. Point to the print as you read aloud
Words on a page have meaning, and that is what we learn to read
Words go across the page from left to right. Follow with your finger as you read
Words on a page are made up of letters and are separated by a space
Each letter has at least two forms: one for capital letters and one for small letters
Imagine how you would feel if you were trying to interpret a book full of
such symbols. That's how young readers feel. But, a little patience
(maybe by turning it into a puzzle you can solve together) is certain to
build confidence.

Advertise the Joy of Reading!
Our goal is to motivate children to want to read so they will practice reading
independently and, thus, become fluent readers. That happens when
children enjoy reading. We parents can do for reading what fast food
chains do for hamburgers ... ADVERTISE! And we advertise by reading
great stories and poems to children.

We can help our children find the tools they need to succeed in life. Having
access to information through the printed word is an absolute
necessity. Knowledge is power, and books are full of it. But
reading is more than just a practical tool. Through books we can
enrich our minds; we can also relax and enjoy some precious
leisure moments. With your help, your children can begin a lifelong
relationship with the printed word, so they grow into adults who read easily
and frequently whether for business, knowledge or pleasure.

via:
http://www.colgate.com/app/HealthyHabits/US/EN_v2/ResourcesForParents/ExpertArticles/ReadingWithYourChild.cwsp