Children need to hear how sentences sound before reading them makes sense. They benefit in the same way that a music student benefits from hearing a polished concert. Hearing a story read aloud teaches children what reading is all about. Reading aloud is a great activity for the whole family. Choose library books or stories that everyone can enjoy.
Older children can take turns being the reader too.
It can be an adventure to take a trip to your local library. Let your children select the stories to be read. Sometimes children will want to hear the same story over and over again. Make sure you stop reading when your child begins to lose interest. Storytelling is like reading out loud and can be just as valuable.