I found this article from the Center of Early Literacy. I think it does a nice job explaining why children love to have the same story read to them over and over again. Although it can be difficult for parents to read the same book over and over again it is beneficial to the child being read to.
http://www.earlyliteracylearning.org/cellpract_parent/preschool/PG_1_P_ReadAgain.pdf
Especially for parents of preschoolers!
Read It Again!
Reading and Storytelling
Young children love to hear their favorite books read aloud again and again. Repeated readings help preschoolers master the story lines, ideas, and language of well-loved stories.
What is the practice?
Repeated reading lets children learn the words, story structure, and use of language in a story. Parents can read a story many times so their preschool child can talk about and be part of the story. Many young children, especially those with speech and language delays, are not able to grasp an entire story on the first reading. So hearing books read several times helps them learn and notice new things.
What does the practice look like?
When hearing a story several times, a child can figure out what a new word means by the rest of the words he hears. Sharing a book again and again lets your child notice repeated sound patterns. If you point out some letters and words each time you read a book, he can begin to match letters to sounds.
How do you do the practice?
Here are some ideas that will help you make repeated readings interesting and fun for your young child.
• Encourage your child to be part of the fun as you share favorite books. Welcome her comments and questions. Ask her what happens next.
• Preschool children are most likely to enjoy repeated reading when the books are about things they find familiar and interesting. A great place to start is by reading the child’s favorite book.
• Let the child choose the story. Preschool children will often choose the same book again and again on their own.
• Be excited about the story, even when you’re reading it for the umpteenth time. Read-aloud sessions are much more than saying words and turning pages. When you express your own excitement about the pictures, story, setting, and characters, the child will be excited too.
• Let your child “read” the story to you. Children get to know the words and plots of stories that have been read to them many times. They enjoy saying the words and turning the pages, just as if they were reading the book.
• Involve your child in repeated reading when you are both relaxed and unhurried. Perfect times? How about when you snuggle together at bedtime or when you’re passing time in a waiting room.
How do you know
the practice worked?
• Does the child bring you the same book to be read over and over?
• Does she seem to have “picked up” new vocabulary words or an understanding of the story?
• Does the child make comments about the story or tell what’s go- ing to happen next?
CELLp r a c t i c e s
