Books open an incredibly imaginative world of endless possibilities, fostered by imagination, building language, and instilling a lifelong love of learning. Reading is the root of all connection and growth here at Sparkles! Early Learning Academy-in the classroom and at home.
Why Reading Matters
Reading means traveling to fantastic worlds upon turning a page. While reading together with your child, you give him much more than just letters and sounds, as in those words, you fold in rhythm, storytelling, and the emotional depth of characters and their stories.
We watched it at Sparkles! the joy and growth of children due to reading. Story Time is so much more than learning sequences or making predictions. It is about problem-solving, taking turns with others, and understanding feelings. When modeled at home, these lessons become much more robust in a place where your child finds their security and comfort.
Reading with your child also supports their developmental growth by:
- Enhancing comprehension through active engagement
- Developing critical thinking skills by analyzing and inferring
- Fostering curiosity and self-directed learning
- Expanding vocabulary through context
- Building higher-order thinking skills by generating deeper questions
How we bring books alive at Sparkles!
Storytime Adventures:
Our teachers breathe life into stories daily with their animated voices, colorful props, and engaging interactions. This vibrant atmosphere encourages children to weave their narratives through drawings and crafts, allowing their creativity and imagination to flourish.
Cozy Reading Corners:
Our classroom reading centers are welcoming, with soft rugs, plush pillows, and a wide range of books for each age group. They offer cozy corners where children may sit and read independently or in small groups with a teacher.
Book-related activities:
We turn tales into an experience-rich reality. For example, children listening to The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle can do extension activities like making their own caterpillars or counting fruits from the story, making a lesson quite memorable and engaging.
You can create your own magical reading experiences with your children using these tips
Instill a daily practice:
Dedicate 10–15 minutes each night for a bedtime story. Choose books with repetitive phrases or engaging plots to encourage participation and prediction.
Encourage engagement:
To ignite curiosity and foster critical thinking, pose inquiries such as, “What do you believe will unfold next?” or “What emotions might this character be experiencing?”
Bring stories to life:
Reenact stories like Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak with costumes or build a “wild rumpus” fort and reenact the story.
Let’s Create Lifelong Readers
We’re committed to nurturing your child’s love of reading. Here is a list of recommended books to get started:
- Kindness Makes Me Stronger – Elizabeth Cole
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? – Bill Martin Jr./Eric Carle
- Grumpy Monkey – Suzanne Lang
- No, David! – David Shannon
- Broken Crayons Still Color – Toni Collier
- My Five Senses – Aliki
- How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? – Jane Yolen & Marki Teague
- The Rainbow Fish – Marcus Pfister
- Llama Llama Red Pajama – Anna Dewdney
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie – Laura Numeroff
- The Emotions Book – Liz Fletcher
- Llama Llama Time to Share – Anna Dewdney
- It’s Okay to be Different – Todd Parr
Grab a cozy blanket, curl up with your little one, and embark on an extraordinary adventure through the pages of a book. Together, we can make reading magical!
