A BOOK A DAY — STIMULATING YOUR CHILD'S MIND

Reading is one instance where you truly can never have too much of a good thing. Reading to your child plays a crucial role in brain development; it engages both the ears and eyes. Story time provides bonding time between parent and child; and books provide an ageless experience — your child is never too young to be read to or too old to read a story. Unlike time spent in front of a TV, reading is commercial-free, and a book-loan is free, if you use a library card.

Even with so many positives, it is estimated that 50 percent of toddlers are not read to on a regular basis and that 40 percent of 4th graders are reading below grade level. This is all the more reason to make reading with your child an everyday activity. When it comes to reading, the sooner the better. Start reading to your child from birth.

· There are billions of books out there, so we will never run out of things to read. With so many choices, there is room to be choosey. The following are tips to keep in mind when slimming the selection.

· For infants, make sure books are durable (cardboard, laminated and cloth pages are options). This way, if your baby puts the book in his or her mouth, both book and baby will be unharmed. The thicker pages in infant books are easier for babies to handle and help turn. Look for bright colors and illustrations of familiar objects.

· Make sure that illustrations and story messages are not perpetuating stereotypes, racism or sexism. Look at how villains and heroes are depicted. Ask yourself what the storyline teaches.

· Look for books with examples of positive behaviors. A study out last month found that classic storybooks depicted smoking considerably more often than contemporary books. If dangerous behaviors are shown without any consequence, discuss this with your child. For example, if a character isn't wearing a seatbelt, ask your child what the character forgot to do.

· Mix things up. Use a variety of books — those with characters and situations your child can relate to and others that teach new things.

Story Teller

At each stage of your child's development, reading may take a new direction. The following are ideas on how to keep story time going strong in your household:

· Two, three, four, five times a charm. If you child asks you to re-read a favorite story — do. Once your child is reading, encourage him or her to re-read books; familiarity and comfort when reading is a good way to help your child gain confidence.

· As children get older, their attention span grows and lengthier stories become favorites. Use expression and inflection in your voice to help convey the meaning of words and retain your child's involvement.

· Once a child knows a story, he or she may want to finish sentences or join in on phrases that are repeated. Welcome the interaction. Take turns reading to one another. Let your child recite from memory and be creative in adding new details.

· Use books to start conversations on tough subjects. A story's message has meaning and can speak to your child. Books can be incredibly helpful for dealing with difficult situations, such as a new school or divorce.

· Encourage, encourage, encourage. Give positive feedback when your child reads out loud. Answer questions, ask questions and interact.

Word Games

For as long as I can remember, I've kept a dictionary in my car. Now that my children are grown, they tease me and say "Only you would have a dictionary in your vehicle," but I'm hoping I can inspire a few of you to put one in your glove box, too. When my children were growing up, I'd have them pull it out whenever they had a question about a word. So often, even with words we use regularly, providing a definition can be more difficult than using a word.

Learning new words can be fun. For younger children, try simple word games to help with sounds and pronunciation. Play the alphabet game (where each person take turns listing words that start with a certain letter) or make up simple rhymes. Rhyming can help your child remember how words sound.

Final Chapter

I can't overstate the tremendous value that reading can provide to your child. Studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between children's attitudes toward reading and the interest they see their parents, siblings and other adults in their life express towards reading. Feed your child's imagination - go home and open up a book.