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Read Aloud 15 MINUTES is a non-profit organization that is working to make reading aloud every day for at least 15 minutes the new standard in child care. This organization makes direct connections between reading aloud to a child from birth to the level of readiness to learn in kindergarten, the necessary literacy skills to succeed in school and the ability to have a productive and meaningful life after school.

Quick Facts:

• More than 1 in 3 children arrive at kindergarten without the skills necessary for lifetime learning.
• More than 15% of young children, 3.1 million, are read to by family members fewer than 3 times a week.
• Only 48% of young children in this country are read to each day.
• Reading 15 minutes every day for 5 years is equivalent to 27,375 minutes and 456.25 hours.

Reading aloud has a direct impact on language development, instilling a love of reading, knowledge gained and shared, literacy skill building, brain development and bonding. The number of words within a child’s lexicon upon entering kindergarten is a key predictor of their future success. When a parent or loved one reads to their child, it demonstrates the importance and value of reading as well as the enjoyment. Books can be enjoyable as well as informative in which children can learn something new each time they are read to. Reading aloud builds several literacy skills, including vocabulary, phonics, familiarity with the printed word, storytelling and comprehension. Furthermore, the critical years in the development of language skills are from birth until age 3. Lastly, reading aloud provides a great opportunity for bonding between the child and the loved one as it can be their own special routine.

Takeaway:

If you are treating a client under the age of 5, begin to tell their parents and caregivers the importance of reading aloud to their child for at least 15 minutes each day. It can make a world of difference!

SOURCE:  https://www.asha.org/News/2017/ASHA-and-Read-Aloud-15-MINUTES-Announce-New-Go-To-Resource-for-Parents-of-Young-Children/

-Rebecca Hipp M.A., CF-SLP, TSSLD