This week we’re back with Debbie Neuschatz, a nursery school director and teacher of nearly 50 years. She has great advice on how to incorporate new books into your reading routine and why it’s important to give kids some control of the process. She also weighs in on electronic reading devices.
ASK AN EXPERT: When you should start taking your kids to the library
Debbie Neuschatz is currently the director of Shorashim Preschool in Old Westbury. She’s worked with kids from infancy to grade 12 and has a Master’s in early childhood and special education.
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[This interview has been edited for length and clarity.]
Kids always want to read the same books over and over. What’s the best way to introduce new books?
As they start to have their favorite books you can make a deal– each night you’ll read two or three books. The child picks one and you pick two, or vice versa. But try to introduce a new book each night so it’s not the same repetitive books.
So let them feel like they have some control?
Yes, give them ownership of the books they want to read. You can also let them decide which book they want to read first. Give toddlers some authority in making the choice.
What about as kids get older and can start to read by themselves?
Once they start reading, you can read WITH them. I read a page. You read a page (of the same book). So you’re helping them with the words on your page. And they’re not feeling overwhelmed having to read the whole book.
What do you make of iPads and Kindles– even the educational ones?
I don’t like iPads and Kindles. I would discourage them as much as possible because [kids] are going to get them for the rest of their lives.
What specifically don’t you like about them?
They’re not interacting with a human; they’re interacting with an iPad. I don’t have them at the nursery schools where I work because I want the kids to interact with each other. I know the kids love them and learn things from them, but under five years old I don’t think it’s necessary. I want them to learn to love books.
You say you want kids to love books. Any other tips to foster that?
From the minute they’re born, take them to the library. Get them a library card. Let them get comfortable with the library. They have programs. Let them take out books and learn how to respect the library books. I tell the kids at school when they take out books from the school library to find a special place for them in their house so they can bring the books back and someone else can borrow them.
How do you make sure kids continue to love books even as they get older?
Just never stop reading– with your child and to your child. Even when my kids were still in high school, we’d have a time when they’d get their book, and I’d have my book, and we’d say, “Ok this is our 15 minutes of reading time.” A lot of times they’d ask for more time to finish whatever they were reading. So it works! Starting from the minute they’re born.
