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Reading together with your young child can be a rewarding experience. But how can we, as parents, read aloud effectively to our children?

To read to a kid, you have to be a kid.

Does your child feel bored reading alone? Perhaps you could try reading together – if your child is between the ages of 0-5, it’s a great time to teach them how to read! More importantly, it’s the prime age to start reading aloud to them. Here are some tips on how to read aloud to your child, and why it’s good to read aloud to them too:

1. Read with enthusiasm

It’s okay to sound a little silly when reading with your kiddos. In fact, the more enthusiastic you are, the more engaged your children will be. After all, happiness is catching and if you seem to enjoy reading aloud, so will your child. So, use various tones and rhythms from your voice, put on a different accent for different characters, make it fun for your child.

2. Don’t just focus on the words

Your child’s attention will probably wander to the pictures on the side. Well, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so when you’re reading a book, be sure to pay attention to the illustrations on the side too. Gesture to the pictures and engage your child with them; ask them questions about what they see and what they think. Ask them for their opinions on the picture. This keeps junior interested and excited for the rest of the book.

3. Pick a child-friendly book

So what makes a good children’s book for young readers? A good storyline is always a must to sustain their attention. Get a book with plenty of nice illustrations for your child to look at, and simple words that they can easily understand. The Plano Adventures is an adventure-filled children’s book, but with a simple storyline. The reader is taken on a journey with Professor Plano and his two friends, Zed and Zee. Through these adventures, the reader learns about the importance of protecting their eyesight, and even the dangers of cyberbullying. The series contains 5 books to date and you can buy the whole set of 5 books in Singapore at Kinokuniya, Times Bookstores, and at Popular. Alternatively, buy them online at Amazon or at Book Depository.