"How to Make Read Aloud Time Fun and Engaging: Tips for Parents and Teachers

1. Make it a positive experience:  Pick books that interest your child. Model holding the book the right way and turning the pages. Encourage and praise their interactions.

   
   

2. Sit face to face with your child:  This allows your child to see your facial expression and your mouth movements

   
   

3. Use different voices for characters: Bring the story to life by using distinct voices for each character. This can make the reading experience more engaging and fun for your child.

   
   

4. Incorporate props and toys: Use stuffed animals, action figures, or other toys to act out scenes from the book. This tactile experience can help your child visualize and engage more deeply with the story.

   
   

5. Make connections to real life: Relate the events or characters in the book to your child's own experiences. This can help them understand the story better and see its relevance to their own world.

   
   

6. Encourage your child to predict what happens next: Pause at key moments and ask your child what they think will happen next. This can enhance their critical thinking and comprehension skills.

   
   

7. Ask and answer questions out loud: Thinking out loud provides a model of self talk and supports comprehension and executive function growth.

   
   

8. Play I Spy: Label nouns or verbs in the illustrations of the story. This provides visual support for novel items, which assists in increasing comprehension.

   
   

9. Draw a scene or a series of scenes from the story: This helps your child pair visual imagery with words - a key skill for comprehension.  

   
   

10. Repetition is key: Yes, reading the same book over and over is boring to us but learning vocabulary takes many exposures. Repetition also allows your child to practice other cognitive skills, such as creating visual imagery of the end result.