Marinate children....

...in higher-level vocabulary.   Don't you  just love that visual?  When you marinate something, it sits and soaks slowly, absorbing all the flavors in the  marinade.  This is actually a quote from  Pam Allyn, founder of LitWorld.Org, a nonprofit group that works to increase literacy among young people. The read-aloud can accomplish this.   Not only does reading aloud to children (even after they can read to themselves) build that background knowledge and increase vocabulary, there is research now that claims it also leads to a love of reading.

We know to get better at something you have to practice, you have to do it.  Reading is the same.  Sadly, children have very little time to read at school.  Of course that should be a top priority but instead the day is taken up with silly stuff instead of actual reading.  Nor do children have many opportunities to choose what they read at school.  What better place to let children choose the books they read than at home.   Even the youngest can choose a book.  What better way to end a day than to curl up and listen to an adult read a good book, with lots of expression and rich vocabulary.

You may be thinking, how can my 3 year old read.  Well, there are 3 ways to read a book.  You can just make up a story, turning each page.  You can look at each picture and create a story that goes with the picture.  Lastly, you can read the words.  All three are valid ways for young children.  Your young child can read to an even younger child!

Your 4 year old won't inform you you aren't playing doll house 'properly' if she hasn't been marinated in higher - level vocabulary.  

How can something so easy and fun like reading aloud have so many benefits!  It just does.
Don't take my word for how important reading aloud to children is.   Google it!