Thursday, December 26, 2019 Charleston County Library

CHARLESTON, S.C. - When children are not read to by their caregivers, they enter kindergarten having heard one million fewer words than children whose parents read them stories. This startling statistic was published in a recent study which highlights the importance of reading to children, and Charleston County Public Library (CCPL) has all the tools for parents to close the million-word gap.

The study, which appeared in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, focuses on the disadvantage experienced by children who are not read to regularly by their caregivers. Children who are read five books a day hear about 1.4 million words more by the time they enter kindergarten, and children who are read one book a day hear about 290,00 more words by age five than those who don’t regularly read books with a caregiver, according to the report. As many as 40 percent of children are never read to by their parents, according to the study.

As many as 40 percent of children are never read to by their parents, according to the study.

While these numbers may seem a bit overwhelming, have no fear! CCPL is a free resource for parents who are ready to take on the challenge of closing the million-word gap. The library’s children’s collection features 47,268 books. You can check out materials from 17 branch locations or access our digital collections through the CCPL website.

When conducting the study, researchers evaluated the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s top 100 circulated children’s books in order to determine the average number of words in the select titles. On average, board books contain about 140 words and picture books contain about 228 words.

Beth McGuire selects the titles for the children’s collection at CCPL, and she’s compiled lists of her favorite read-aloud titles (picture and board books) to help parents get started.

 

       

 

McGuire also encourages parents to read chapter books to their young children.

“When my children were about four years old, we started reading one chapter a night and they loved it!  I still remember our first book, “The One and Only Ivan” by Katherine Applegate,” said McGuire. “We talked about Ivan like he was a real, live gorilla living in our house. We still talk about Ivan!”

Below are her top five favorite chapter books. 

 

 

While some parents may find it silly to read to a baby who doesn’t yet understand, there is immense value in that interaction, according to Abbey Adams, Children’s Librarian and Manager at Charleston County Public Library.

“Your baby will get used to it, and it will give you and your baby a chance to communicate and help you learn what your baby likes. It’s positive for them to hear the sound of your voice, and the words you are reading provide a wider range of vocabulary you wouldn’t use in everyday speech,” said Adams. “Reading aloud provides your child a foundation for language and builds early literacy skills.”

Abbey encourages parents to begin reading a couple of minutes a day to their babies.

“Start at a time when they are going to be cuddly and relaxed, like when they are just waking up from a nap or going down for a nap,” she said.

The library also works hard to teach parents skills that further enhance the reading experience. Jackie Peters is a former children’s librarian who currently oversees children’s programming at CCPL, and she says the library’s storytimes are a great way to better engage your children.

“When caregivers attend storytime, we teach them the skills based on the Every Child Ready to Read model, which incorporates talking, reading, writing, playing and singing,” said Peters. “Storytime tools enhance the reading experience even further by incorporating fine motor skills, engagement, phonological awareness, and more. Parents can learn about these skills and do all these things at home with their kids.”

Peters encourages parents to read often in front of their children and to visit a storytime at the library. Visit our website for a list of locations and storytimes. This video also provides an overview of CCPL’s Storytime programs.

“The engagement between caregiver and child develops a bond and provides a positive experience that teaches the child that reading is fun and enjoyable,” said Peters.

CCPL also has an early literacy program, 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, which encourages young children to read. The library provides printed logs or access to online logging for parents to track their child’s progress.

The Storytime Kits To-Go are another great resource at CCPL! Each kit offers a thematic selection of books, activities, rhymes, songs and toys to make storytime an immersive experience at home. Kits may be reserved online and picked up at the CCPL branch of your choice.

You can find more recommended reads for preschoolers here. Parents are also welcome to visit or call their local CCPL branch for recommendations based on their children’s interests.