Reading aloud for children

In our society, reading and writing is an important educational foundation. Experience and studies show that the experience of reading aloud before entering school facilitates later reading skills. Already in their early childhood development, children learn social behaviour and develop their language and perception skills. These skills can be supported and promoted by regular reading aloud and the emotional bond that comes with it: The children's ability to concentrate is increased through play; they discover their fantasy, enrich their vocabulary and enjoy books.

Reading mentors in Stuttgart regularly read to small groups of children (about once a week) , and we pay particular attention to personal contact with the children. At present, the mentors read aloud in 20 district libraries, 165 municipal day-care centres, 31 independent institutions and 45 schools. In this way they also reach those who are not read to at home and whose family language is not German. In this way they introduce children to the written language and make an important contribution to integration, equal opportunities and educational justice.