One of the best things you can do with your child only takes a few minutes but you need to do it regularly. You can do it wherever you are and at any time during the entire day. You can do it if your child is 2 years old or if he is 11 years old. Experts recommend you do it with your child whether he already is reading or hasn’t yet begun.

What is it? It is reading together.

Here are a few tips on reading together, especially taking into account you are reading out loud.

First, get comfortable. Offer a soft pillow to sit on or blankets to snuggle up in winter or a cool breeze if the weather is warmer than usual. Before you begin, think about offering cookies and milk to help make them even more comfortable.

Make sure you have picked a spot that is quiet so you and your child can focus on what you are reading. Make sure that you leave all the phones or other distracting sounds far away so the neither of you should be interrupted.

See if he has a preference for a special book. Even though he has read it before, he might want to share it with you.

Look for books that fit his reading level. Librarians are a great source to help you find the right book or even just ask your child; he may know a good book for you to share.

Start with the cover of the book. Talk about it. If this is a story about a hummingbird, remind him you saw one yesterday and see what he has to say about hummingbirds before you even begin reading. See if there is anything he wants to learn about hummingbirds from reading this book.

Remember this is reading for both of you. Take turns. If there is repetition in a story, see if your child can repeat the key phrases with you.

Don’t hesitate to use a silly voice or encourage your child to use one. This can add to the experience. Even a dramatic voice can be fun to add to the reading experience.

If this is a new story for your child, stop from time to time and ask him if he can guess or predict what will happen next. We all make predictions and this encourages that even more.

If he stumbles on a word he is reading, help him sound it out. Certainly talk about words he is unsure of so that next time he will recognize the word.

Ask him questions about the story after you have finished. See if he had a favorite part of the book. Ask him what the book taught him. Even talk with him about what he may have disliked about the story.

Talk about what book he might like to read next. He might tell you he really likes a different kind of book and that would help you pick the next one.

Hug him and tell him you love him and you love reading with him. If he has read part of the story, compliment him on his reading skill. If he had good questions or things he wanted to learn, say something positive about that.

Feel good about what you have just done in a very brief period of time. You have had an enjoyable family experience with him. You have helped him appreciate reading. You have let him feel positively about what he has just experienced. You have let him know you love him. That is a lot of positive to pass on in 15 minutes.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and former executive director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com.