Narrative Skills: Includes the ability to describe things and events and to tell stories; to predict, sequence, and summarize while developing sentence building skills.
These skills help children understand what they are reading when they start to read.
Babies
Talking to baby is the best way to development language. Leave time for your baby to "answer." As you go through your day, look at your baby and tell her what you are doing.
Read favorite books again and again.
Toddlers
Toddlers often ask questions like "What's that?" over and over again. Add information to what they ask. If they point to a cow, tell them, "That is a cow." Say "cow," and let them try to say the word. Give them lots of time to answer. As your toddler asks you simple questions, make sure to add information to what he says.
2- and 3- Year Olds
When you read a book with your child, ask him, "What is happening here?" or "What do you see on this page?" Ask questions that canot be answered with a yes or no or by just pointing to the picture. Let him use the words he knows. Give him extra time to think and to answer. Talking back and forth uses three different parts of the brain, so it might take your child some time to form his responses. Be patient.
4- and 5- Year Olds
Help your child relate what is happening in a story/text to her own experience. Have your child draw a picture. Then let him tell you what is happening in the picture. Write down his words on his picture. Act out stories or parts of them; having young children use their whole bodies helps them internalize and understand what is happening in the story.
Source: Cedarmill.org/library
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