Explorer kits are based on an interactive approach to reading. And what does interactive reading mean? It's basically a way to bring books to life!

For babies and toddlers (0-3 year olds), it means letting them discover books:

1. Let them play with books, manipulate them, chew on them, etc.!

2. Once they're familiar with books, show them how to use them.

3. After they understand how books work, let your children discover the words and pictures they contain.

These activities are good for the whole family. Include your older kids by asking them to help out with crafts, with reading and with playing with your little ones! You can find more information on interactive reading here.

For 3 to 5 year olds, this means fostering interaction and using repetition:

The method described below is a model, but make it your own! Change things! Add more! The goal is to have a wonderful time with your children, that's all that matters!

We suggest the following method using a book of your choice. Before you start reading with your children, read the book by yourself and define these three concepts:

1. Vocabulary aka choose 1, 2 or 3 words (depending on your children's literacy skills) that they don't know and explain them (verbally, with an activity, etc.).

2. Writing aka what a word is, a paragraph, how to turn pages, what a title is, etc.

3. Inference aka explain a why, i.e. get your children to put themselves in the character's shoes to understand their actions.

Once these concepts are defined, you will read the book to your children a grand total of four times:

1. First read: you read the story normally and introduce the concepts. The goal is to pass on the information to your children. Be open to exchanges, to answering their questions, etc.

2. Second read: you read the story while deliberately making mistakes, all the while continuing to introduce the concepts. The goal is to focus your children's attention. They'll correct you on your mistakes without fail!

3. Third read: you read the story normally while asking your children questions about the concepts you introduced in the previous reads.

4. Fourth Read: It's your children's turn to read to YOU!

These activities are good for the whole family. Include your older kids by asking them to help out with crafts, with reading and with playing with your little ones! You can find more information on interactive reading here (the text is in French, but the videos, which we recommend watching, have english subtitles available).