How to Read a Book to a Group of Children

Reading a book to a group of children takes some skill and practice. Use a book that you have read several times and can almost read without looking. This gives you the opportunity to assess your audience, or in this case the children's faces, to see how they like the book.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Appropriate children's book
• Comfortable sitting area
• Small chair

1. Pick a book that is appropriate for the age group of children you are reading to. Preferably a book you have read more than once.
2. Sit children on a carpet in a semi circle position or give them individual carpets to sit on. This allows them to respect their individual space easier.
3. Position yourself on the floor or in a low chair position so that the children can see you and the book you are about to read.
4. Go over the three main parts of the book with children 2 to 5 years old. The three main parts of the book are the front, back and spine.
5. Hold the book in your dominant hand with the pictures facing the group of children.
6. Point to the title of the book before you begin reading the book to the children.
7. Read the book to the group of children.

Tips & Warnings

• To maintain the children's attention while reading, use various character voices, ask questions relating to the page at hand and ask the children what is going to happen next.
• Have a few books on hand in case the children start to get bored with the first book you chose. Then you can easily transition to another book and gain their attention again.