To Promote LONGER reading engagement for 5 year olds

Focus is a skill that requires practice. Being able to sit for long stretches of reading-time does not necessarily come easily to most toddlers and kindergartners. But developing the ability too, early-on, will become a huge advantage as they grow up and their studies require longer and longer periods of focus and reading retention. You can begin practicing reading focus by promoting longer reading-time moments (i.e. maybe trying to read three books instead of two). Allow it to be gradual and organic; forcing long stretches before practice would be the same as excepting yourself to play Beethoven the first time you sit down at a piano. Be gentle and flexible. Adding in the tools I describe below during reading-time will inadvertently practice their engagement and stamina!

Start with Finger Taps-

…for calm before a book. Sometimes a moment to refocus BEFORE the book helps to prepare them for reading time.  It is natural for their energy to be scattered and their ability to sit for reading will be limited by the amount of chaotic energy they feel.  Giving your child a moment to settle before starting a book will set them up for a more successful reading session. Practice this quick finger play: Take a deep breath in and exhale all the way out.  Bring the pointer finger to touch the thumb, them move the thumb to touch the middle finger, thumb to ring, and then thumb to pinky (counting one, two, three, and four with each touch). Start the sequence again with another deep breath; repeat the process at least 3x.

Pause for Poses-

While reading together, draw your child’s attention to the illustrations.  By expanding their vision from the words to the artwork, you are guiding them to widen their perspective.  Often the illustrations have their own story to tell. Draw their attention to an element of the illustration and then practice the yoga pose for it (i.e. cat pose, tree pose, or butterfly pose, etc.).

Wiggle Breaks-

…in between books.  Let’s get serious, we all have limited attention.  We can practice growing that span of time but we may also need to use alternative methods.  I’ve learned that my attention span greatly increases if I switch up the material (switching between subjects to be able to study longer or switching between a few books to read for longer stretches).  As your child matures and begins to develop their own learning and focus process, you can support their distraction by incorporating wiggle breaks. Give them a chance to move around: move through ALL of the poses practiced with the illustrations or practice them freeze dance style.  Once they’ve gotten their wiggles out, move on to the next book!

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