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How to Read with Preschoolers

Easy Tips to Share with Families


Reading each day is one of the BEST brain builders around! It also promotes a love of books, and most importantly, nurtures loving bonds between caregivers and children. Plus, families can use children’s books, magazines, newspapers, or e-books they already have!

Selecting the Right Book

There are so many books to choose from. What should you suggest to families for selecting one? Just about any book with content appropriate for preschoolers can become a wonderful tool to build skills and foster positive connections. Below are some ideas you can suggest to families for selecting books:

  • Read from a variety of book types:
    • Story books that have characters and a plot
    • Concept books, such as alphabet, counting, color and shape books
    • Informational books on people, history, science, nature, building, machines, etc.
    • Predictable books with repetition in words, phrases, or sentences that children can start to guess and fill in
  • Explore different topics. Choose books with topics that interest your child.
  • Practice repetition. Read the same book repeatedly, emphasizing different features each time—vocabulary words, rhyming words, or beginning sounds.


Getting the Most Out of Reading Time

Share these five tips with families to get the most out of reading at home with preschoolers:

  • Make it FUN for you and your child. There's no need to read every word or finish the book all at once. Have your child participate in telling the story, making comments, asking and answering questions, and turning pages.
  • Be expressive! Use lots of expression in your face and voice for different characters, actions, and emotions.
  • Nurture conversation. Talk about the meaning of a few interesting words in the book.
  • Provoke curiosity. Ask questions that start with why, what, or how.
  • Take notice, together. Point out words and letters as you read—count them, and note words that rhyme (hat, cat) or start with the same letter (duck, down).

As you and the families you serve continue to navigate at-home learning, we will share resources you can send to families to continue quality learning at home.