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Many scholars have found that a technique called “active learning” has worked more effectively than traditional instructional teaching in some cases. Of course the instructional teaching is a tried and true approach; for young people though, they are learning much on their own simply by interacting with their surroundings.

That is the main component to active learning: learning by doing, playing and experiencing the subject rather that working solely with the concept. Children who employ themselves to discover books and read are a form of active learning.

Reading to Children

This is also true for reading out loud. It sparks the imagination and actively engages the mind by hearing the story unfold. When the material is read, it not only engages the child with a story, it also creates a special time for both child and parent as a bonding session.

Finding books based on your child’s age and reading level is important. The younger the child is, the more visual they are going to learn, but at any stage it is good for your child to see what you are reading to them. For instance, toddlers may be interested in more in concept books like how to use the toilet, or counting and A-B-C books where they can see the illustrations and words with you.

There are many resources for finding the types of books that fit your child’s needs or interests. Of course exploring your local library is a good way to find out what strikes their interest or by many programs offered by nonprofit groups and public schools.

Finding the Books that Best Interest Children

There are many resources online where parent, teachers and kids alike can visit to find good books as well as techniques to spark interest in books. Elementary schools often subscribe to programs that bring book resources to children more effectively. Scholastic books catalogs have been a mainstay in the elementary school classroom for decades, encouraging students to develop their reading and comprehension skills, and are just one more resource for students to find books in their interest level.

Book fairs are another way of getting books to those in the education industry as well. Usually there are fairs held to fund raise so that schools can afford to bring more books into their libraries and classrooms. Book fairs are often hosted or sponsored by a children’s book publisher, such as Scholastic Books, Doubleday, First Book, and others. Checking a publisher’s website can reveal more about book fairs in your region.

It’s fundamental for the parents to catalyze the interest though simply by demonstrating their own act of reading in front of their children done by example.

Over 85 years Scholastic Books (http://www.scholastic.com) has been in the business of getting children reading and learning. A staple resource in public schools across many nations, they’ve provided children, teachers and parents valuable resources through books and reading resource instruction.