Robert and Kathi Garff Recently appeared on KSL's Studio 5.  They discussed how their desire to reach out to the community and encourage young learning stemmed from their own experiences raising children.  Kathi offered great reading tips to help increase the positive influence of grandparents in their grandchildren's successful learning.

Tips reading to your grandchildren

1. Give books as Christmas or birthday presents – Personalize your gifts by writing a little note in each book you give your grandchildren.
   
   
2. Read them the classics including poetry; books you read to your own children (their parents).  Tell them how much their father or mother loved this book.  Include books that have rhymes and poetry.  Find books that are not always serious, but playful where you can laugh together:  Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, Mother Goose.  But expose them also to Robert Louis Stevenson, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickensen, and Carl Sandburg.  Teach them to learn simple rhymes and deeper more thoughtful poetry. 
   
   
3. Ask them to retell in their own words, their favorite books they have read.  Ask them to describe details and define certain words used in the books.
   
   
4. Encourage them to read out loud with you so they can feel the expression and emotion in themselves.  Children need to learn confidence in their own voice.  They learn to listen as well as to express.  Tell them to read with a little drama! 
   
   
5. Play travel games such as spelling words, reading road signs, finding letters of the alphabet, rhyming words, “Hinky pinky”, (syllable games), adding sums in their head to encourage numeracy, etc.  Also, play board games such as scrabble in pairs to help them learn word endings, beginnings, plurals, etc.
   
   
6. Volunteer at your grandchildren’s schools by reading, or helping in any way.  Attend their school programs, ask what they are studying in school and let them know you value their education. 
   
   
7. Whenever you read with them, always let them know how happy you are to be with them and give them lots of hugs.