Read with Your Children, Not to Them

Research has found that reading with young children and engaging them can make a positive impact on the child’s future and their family.

Bradford Wiles is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in early childhood development at Kansas State University.  For most of his career, Wiles’ research has focused around building resilience in vulnerable families.

His current research is focused on emergent literacy and the effect of parents reading with their children ages 3 to 5 years old.

“Children start learning to read long before they can ever say words or form sentences,” said Wiles. “My focus is on helping parents read with their children and extending what happens when you read with them and they become engaged in the story.”

The developmental process, known as emergent literacy, begins at birth and continues through the preschool and kindergarten years.  This time in children’s lives is critical for learning important preliteracy skills.

Kirtland Peterson

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