Apart from being a fun bonding activity for parents and their children, interactive storybook reading can have fantastic benefits for your child’s cognitive development, improving assertiveness, self-confidence, language skills, communication, etc.
Certified speech-language pathologists regularly incorporate shared reading as a therapeutic tool to help children with speech impairments maximize their communication ability and find a way to express their thoughts. The speech pathologists at Better Speech actually suggest that parents spark the love for books and reading in their children as soon as possible and make it an enjoyable family activity.
How shared reading found its place in speech therapy
By reading aloud, naming objects in the book, repetition, formulaic expressions, or relating to pictures or the storyline, children are able to find a medium for communication. Reading is fun, it builds up the anticipation and is highly engaging. It eases the pressure from stressful tasks and creates a playful and relaxing atmosphere.
Research has shown that literacy-based intervention techniques help students and patients visualize language units and provide a relatable context. Children can better relate the words to emotions and work on vocabulary that enables them to do so effortlessly. Regular exposure to combined verbal and written text is a solid base for further academic and socio-emotional development.
Here are 6 simple tips from experts on how to wisely utilize the power of storybooks and get the most out of reading for your kids:
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Choose the right books
While there’s no rule to what your kids will find interesting, toddlers can benefit from storybooks with songs and rhymes, onomatopoeic words (animal sounds, exclamations), roleplay, colorful animations and pictures. Some books even have sensory aiding, like sound or touch-and-feel pages that are amazing for contextualizing sensations. Shared reading should be an interactive experience that engages all the senses. The more the book provides, the easier it will be for you and the child to get imaginative. Of course, if your child has specific speech or language problems or apraxia of speech, look for specific apraxia books or ask a speech therapist for a reading list. 
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Get creative with body language
Facial expressions and voice pitch are just as important as what you’re reading to the child, so try to keep the anticipation on a high level by changing the tone and body language once in a while. Help your kid understand and relate to abstract words and emotions by showing them yourself. You will notice the child wanting to participate in storytelling and contribute with their own interpretation.
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Take turns and encourage the child to read
Shared reading means engaging the child in the reading process. If your daughter or son keeps fidgeting and shifting focus, starting a dialogue may help. The team at Music Groupies advise to use music to create a short choreography for the songs or ask the child to finish the rhyme. You can also use pictures and relate them to words. Return to the beginning if necessary and let your kid point at what’s peculiar or exciting.
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Again, again and again!
Children enjoy repetition, and it’s an excellent technique for acquiring new vocabulary. Bring out the same books from time to time and let the children be the storytellers. You’ll notice how the same book unfolds differently through every shared reading, which can help you understand what your child has learned and what primarily caught their attention.
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You don’t always need to have all the answers
A child’s imagination can outreach every adult’s made-up answer, and that’s perfectly okay. Utilize the storyline to practice problem-solving, responding and communication by involving the child in answering their own questions. Elicit as many WH questions as possible, try starting a sentence or idea and let the child think of the solution. Foster guessing and teach your kid to think single-handedly.
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Make frequent eye contact
This seems like a redundant tip, but it can determine the course of the entire reading experience. Instead of putting the child in your lap, have them face you directly so that they can clearly see your facial expressions and gestures. This also makes roleplay easier and opens up more possibilities for acting out situations or freely presenting the story through movement.