I have been trying to get my son to read aloud for quite some time now. I ask him to read aloud his lessons in preparation for his examinations, but he just doesn't seem to understand the importance of reading aloud.

Since the time I remember, in my childhood, my father used to read aloud stories to us from comic books or other stories and I really enjoyed listening to his voice. He is an avid reader of books himself and so I guess the habit rubbed on to all of us too. I started reading books as soon as I could read on my own and found them to be very entertaining, much more than watching a movie.

Reading aloud has lots of benefits and plays an important role in improving the vocabulary, knowledge of the outer world as also the knowledge of the language. One learns to pronounce words the way they are meant to be read.

Voice modulation is very important while reading aloud so as to convey the exact meaning of the sentences in the correct context. Laying emphasis on the right syllables of a word or a word in a sentence can help in conveying the right expression. Also being able to read all the words clearly and distinctly helps other people to understand what you are reading and even imbibe the knowledge gained hitherto.

What is the importance of reading aloud? There has been a lot of studies and research on this subject and the findings suggested that the literacy growth was higher. The Commission on Reading came out with a report in 1985, "Becoming a Nation of Readers" which stated that the “single most important activity for building knowledge for their eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children”.
Refer to this article for more details regarding its importance:
http://www.literacyconnections.com/ImportanceOfReadingAloud.php

Literacy begins at home. If you want your children to be able to enjoy the experience of reading books, then you need to show them how reading books can be a "pleasureful" activity by reading aloud to them. Books with colorful pictures or illustrations can add a lot of fun and meaning and be attractive to a child. Teach your children the "value" of books. One of the greatest benefits that reading aloud can develop for all children, is a background knowledge that helps them achieve a far higher level of understanding that goes beyond the classroom.

It is very important to select the right kind of books to read aloud to your child. The language, vocabulary and knowledge in the book should be rich and bountiful. Reading aloud forces your child into active thinking and imagination. The child learns the skills of having conversations related to the story and this will help in building the self confidence and self esteem and the road to success later in life. Here are some good examples of "Read Aloud" books by Marci McGowan: http://www.mrsmcgowan.com/books/index.html
http://www.carolhurst.com/profsubjects/reading/readingaloud.html

Here are some other links that stress on the importance of reading aloud:
http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr081.shtml
http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-ch1.html

Do's and Don'ts of Reading Aloud:
http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/rah-ch4.html

Reading Aloud: Tips for Parents and Teachers
http://www.literacyconnections.com/ReadingAloud.php

http://www.readingaloud.org/

What are read alouds and what can they do for instruction?
http://www.esiponline.org/classroom/foundations/reading/readalouds.html

Reading aloud is the best way to promote literacy and reading habits in young children. It is the best way to learn and understand a language and gain the skills required to read and write. It provides a window to knowledge that is far reaching and goes beyond classroom teachings. So, don't hesitate to read aloud to your child and also encourage them to read aloud.

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