As parents of small children, I’m sure “again” and “more” are words that have haunted you in your sleep at some point. Children love repetition, and they aren’t shy about making that known! Though reading the same book over and over (and over, and over, and over…) becomes more than a little monotonous for adults, kids benefit from that repetition. Through repetition, their brain cells are making all kinds of connections which help them learn.
So, instead of discouraging your child from having you read the same book five times in a row, try reading it in different ways. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
-Rather than reading the words, go through the book looking only at the pictures. Talk about what each picture is, and relate what you can to experiences you or your child may have had.
-Try singing the story or using different voices to read it. It’s a silly way to switch it up enough to make the same story more interesting for you, and your child will LOVE it.
-Have your child retell the story to you. This will help him develop narrative skills, which help with comprehension. Plus, it’s always fun to hear his understanding of the story’s events. If he has a hard time doing it without the book, have him go through and use the pictures to guide his retelling.
Hopefully these tips will help you survive those one-book marathons your child begs to have. And if you come up with any other creative ways to address this issue, by all means, please share them here!
