Transitioning to Chapter Books
This has been one of the most fun transitions I've experienced in parenting so far!
Last year we spent a month in Germany when E was almost 5. I didn't want to bring a month's worth of large kids' picture books so I purchased two Magic School House chapter books and read a chapter each night before bed as well as one or two picture books (of the same 10 small ones).
Here are a few things to help your child with the transition to chapter books:
1. Find a good series that will hold your and your child's interest.
Reading books in a series decreases the number of characters and details that kids have to remember and let's them get into the stories quicker. And if you like it, you'll do a better job reading it aloud! (Try another book if the first isn't peeking interest)
Some options:
2. Practice remembering the story
Each night in Germany before starting the next chapter I would ask (and prompt) E to remember the previous chapter's contents. This practice helps children focus on the important parts of the story. Who? What? Where? How? (Maybe when?) It's also fun to ask questions about small details too, just to see what they can recall.
3. Don't stop reading picture books! Why?
-sense of satisfaction from finishing a story in one sitting
-increase in language development
-learning through inferences from illustrations are important
4. Don't expect your child to read these on their own
This is just an introduction into chapter books. Time this transition before your child can read completely on their own. Foster their love of reading by doing this regularly with your child.
It's important to develop reading skills from both picture books and chapter books at a young age even though they may not have the reading ability on their own.
Other resources:
How to know when your child could read chapter books on their own.
Why read aloud chapter books to preschoolers
7 more tips for reading chapter books to kids- voice, pondering aloud, explanations and more
Last year we spent a month in Germany when E was almost 5. I didn't want to bring a month's worth of large kids' picture books so I purchased two Magic School House chapter books and read a chapter each night before bed as well as one or two picture books (of the same 10 small ones).
Here are a few things to help your child with the transition to chapter books:
1. Find a good series that will hold your and your child's interest.
Reading books in a series decreases the number of characters and details that kids have to remember and let's them get into the stories quicker. And if you like it, you'll do a better job reading it aloud! (Try another book if the first isn't peeking interest)
Some options:
| -The Magic School Bus Rides Again -The Secret Rescuers Magical Collection -Elmer and the Dragon -Dragon Masters -Geronimo Stilton -Magic Treehouse | -Rainbow Fairies -Mercy Watson -Narwhal and Jelly books -Princess in Black -Zoey and Sassafrass -A to Z Mysteries |
Each night in Germany before starting the next chapter I would ask (and prompt) E to remember the previous chapter's contents. This practice helps children focus on the important parts of the story. Who? What? Where? How? (Maybe when?) It's also fun to ask questions about small details too, just to see what they can recall.
3. Don't stop reading picture books! Why?
-sense of satisfaction from finishing a story in one sitting
-increase in language development
-learning through inferences from illustrations are important
4. Don't expect your child to read these on their own
This is just an introduction into chapter books. Time this transition before your child can read completely on their own. Foster their love of reading by doing this regularly with your child.
It's important to develop reading skills from both picture books and chapter books at a young age even though they may not have the reading ability on their own.
Other resources:
How to know when your child could read chapter books on their own.
Why read aloud chapter books to preschoolers
7 more tips for reading chapter books to kids- voice, pondering aloud, explanations and more
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