It can be difficult to maintain your motivation reading books to young children, especially when their attention is easily diverted elsewhere! But the benefits of shared book reading are well worth the effort.

Here is Scope speech pathologist, Nyssa Johnson's top tips on how to do shared book reading.

What is shared book reading?

Shared book reading is when you share a book with your child with no pressure for them to learn to read the words themselves. It involves both reading the story for your child as well as pointing and commenting on the pictures together. It should be fun, interactive and spark conversation between you and your child.

Shared book reading can support a range of early language skills including vocabulary and conversation skills in both typically developing children and children with language delays.

Shared reading in the preschool years supports future reading ability.

How to support your young child while reading

For children beginning to sit and listen to a story, choose books that:

• Are durable board, cloth or plastic
• Have simple bold pictures
• Have minimal words on each page
• Are interactive books (textured, lift the flap, or puppet books)
  

While you read together:

• Sit at eye level
• Face your child
• Let your child hold the book, turn the pages and or touch the pictures
• Point to the pictures and say the words or something about the picture
• Avoid trying to ‘test’ your child by asking too many questions about the pictures.
• Allow time for your child to respond

How to support your child as they progress:

• Gradually choose books that have slightly more words on each page.
• Talk more about the pictures together
• Gradually start pointing to some and then all the words as you read them
• Gradually start talking about the sounds in the words you read
• Keep reading to and with your child! Even though they CAN read, they’ll learn much more language by hearing you read books above the level that they can independently read.

Lastly, remember to be patient. Sitting to listen to a whole book is a skill that your child will learn over time. They need to practice it regularly and build up slowly to listening to longer books.