On March 2, the National Education Association (NEA) calls for every child to read in the company of a caring adult.  This is in conjunction with NEA’s Read Across America Day, an annual reading program that calls for every child to celebrate reading on March 2, the birthday of author Dr. Seuss.  But it doesn’t stop there.  Read Across America has a year-round program to motivate children to read. As with many programs, achieving success depends on the support that is received at home.  It is never too early to read to a child.  The early years are critical to building a lifetime love of reading.  It can be a special time between an adult and child.  As the child starts to learn words or the word for a picture, take turns while reading the book.  Don’t feel that the book has to have pictures. Encourage the use of the imagination to create the picture in the mind.  Make it fun; encourage the imagination by using different voices.  Discuss what is happening in the book; ask questions and point different things out.
Go beyond the book.  Point out different words around you or put a word to an object and talk about that object.  Talk about writing.  How is the story created, who are the characters and where are they from?  When my boys were young, we would make up stories on long cars rides.  We would decide on the characters, the setting and then each add a sentence.  Often characters were borrowed from books we were currently reading or they would be people we knew.
As children start to read on their own, don’t stop reading together.  Have them read to you.  This is a great way for you to evaluate their reading skills, help with comprehension and difficult words.  Be aware that reading can be boring if books are too easy and books that are too difficult often discourage the reader.  Be an example.  Let your child see you reading and tell them how much you learn and are entertained by reading.  Make books a part of your family.