You Could Win!

This month you can win a $5 gift card to Barnes & Noble and a free book!

The 2nd Annual Va Baby & Child Expo is scheduled for September 23, 2006 with new features like hourly door prize drawings, magic show and other performances on the main stage, and more!

Check out our site for details and updates.

April 14th, 2006

Read to Any Good Kids Lately?

In this day of technology, many parents are led to believe that computers and Baby Einstein videos can take the place of—and may even do a better job—than parents! Studies have shown that this is far from the truth! While computer games and videos may offer new skills to your child, they cannot take the place of reading in developing language and other critical linguistic skills.

Videos, and learning games, even those that are programmed for children to interact with them - can’t and don’t answer a child’s own questions. They can only answer the questions that are programmed into them. As pre-schoolers learn more about the world that they live in, they have their own ideas and questions and they will turn to you for answers. Your answers will help develop your child’s mental, emotional and moral education. The time you spend reading and discussing stories together will directly relate to the bond that you have with your child throughout your lifetime.

Listening to books read aloud encourages children to question, repeat, play with words and sounds, use their imaginations and exercise their thinking and interpersonal skills. Sharing and reading stories with your pre-schooler over and over again builds a wealth of 2,000,000 word/language experiences prior to Kindergarten! These background literacy experiences have been shown to be the number one factor to predict your child’s chances of reading success!

It’s never too early or too late to start reading to your child. Whether you start while your child is in the womb or after he/she’s born, the key is to take the time each day to read to your child.

Tips for reading aloud from Read Aloud Virginia:

• Create a special time and place for reading aloud in your home everyday
• Choose a book that is fun and interesting for both you and your child
• Choose a book that is at least 2-3 levels beyond your child's reading level.  Children can listen and understand language at a higher level than they can read!
• Preview your read-aloud book to be sure it has action and emotional impact and that you are comfortable with the content
• Be a ham!  Read with expression and feeling - try different voices and sounds.  Read slower or faster as the story changes!
• Talk about the story as you go along, share your feelings and knowledge with your child!

A majority of hardworking, caring parents read bedtime stories to their children every night, take them to the library on a regular basis, and by their actions and comments let their children know that books can bring much joy to their family times together!

Read Aloud Virginia is a non-profit organization of concerned parents, teachers, librarians, psychologists and volunteers who are dedicated to improving literacy and strengthening families by encouraging parents and others to read aloud to children everyday.

Read Aloud Virginia: Two-day Summer Workshop

You will leave the two day workshop with an understanding of the value of reading aloud to children—especially in the home and followed up by the school and/or daycare.  You will also learn how to initiate and maintain a family reading program for your school/ daycare/home.  You will be introduced to our models and integrate them with your school's team and unique student/community needs.

Thursday, July 20, 2006 - Friday, July 21, 2006
10:00 am – 2:00 pm each day

For more information about registering for the Summer workshop, donating, joining, participation, programs, or volunteering for Read Aloud Virginia, visit readaloudva.org or contact joaniebache@readaloudva.org.