Many parents know the sheer delight of reading a fun new book with their child. Squeals of delight fill the air as mom reads another hilarious Shel Silverstein poem complete with silly voices and funny faces. It’s remarkable to see how this simple act of reading everyday with a child can inevitably create a life-long reader.
There may be a few parents who may feel awkward with the “read aloud” process and even wonder why so many educators make such a big deal about reading out loud with children on a regular basis. If you have a child who loves to read, he or she is probably reading good quality books. If you are reading aloud to them, they are hearing well-written words and seeing proper sentence structure. If you have them read out loud to you, they are learning to speak proper grammar. Subsequently, they will become better spellers, writers, even better listeners, often reading well above their grade level.
It may be as
simple as reading Goodnight Moon each night to your two year old with their bed-time routine. Or it may be a bit more intricate as you devour suspenseful, page-turner chapter books with your third grader. If you invest fifteen minutes each night with your child, you will soon discover the amazing benefits and positive effects it can have on you both. Caution: cuddling up with your child and a good book can sometimes help wash away the worries of the world.
What about older children who may not enjoy reading? Is it important to read aloud to them? I have to say most assuredly--YES!! For the older child, it is critical to find topics of interest to them so they will be more inclined to read with you. Look for collections of shorter stories of adventure or intrigue. Many teens like the popular fantasy genre or novels about sports. You may also be surprised to find that these “reading” moments may open doors for your child to discuss with you other matters on their heart.
Another alternative is to listen to books on tape. We have a series of CD’s in our bookstore by Jim Weiss, a professional storyteller, who reads abridged versions of classics such as Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island and King Arthur. It’s amazing how this man uses his voice for the various characters in each story to bring it to life! This imagination-building activity engages the child’s mind, while enhancing their vocabulary and listening skills. (If you come to our store and mention this blog, we will give you 15% off the purchase of any Jim Weiss CD!)
Where and when do you read aloud to your child? Anytime we go anywhere, we always bring a tote-bag full of books, paper, crayons and pencils. We’ve learned to seize those unplanned moments when we’re stuck in traffic or waiting in a doctor's office. The "where" we read is not as important as the fact that we do read—TOGETHER and often!
It is great for children to have structure and routine, and ideally it is good to read to them every day. Sometimes we need to stop what we’re doing when our child begs, "read to me please," and do it. Other days, it’s enough to get them bathed and in bed at a decent hour. Be flexible and have fun, but be careful that it doesn’t become a tedious ritual. You may wish to vary “how” you read with your child. Have him read one page and you read the next. Or have him draw a picture or doodle quietly while you read the story. Or sometimes have an older sibling read to a younger sibling.
So where do we get started? There are a couple of books which may help parents make good reading selections for their children. The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease is a treasured choice that I would highly recommend. This book unequivocally extols the benefits of reading regularly with your child. Jim Trelease also includes an extensive selection of suggested books that parents may wish to acquire for their personal library.
Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children. Valerie Lewis is a children's bookstore owner in California and Walter Mayes is their resident storyteller. Both are experts in the field of children's books, and as a new bookstore owner, this has been an invaluable tool in helping me choose quality books for our store. They review over 2,000 titles which are categorized according to title and author, as well as age, interests, and reading levels.
I hope parents who are already reading regularly to their children will continue to do so. And for those who haven’t developed this wonderful habit, why not pick up a well-loved book tonight, snuggle up close with your child, tousle their hair and begin with those famous words, "Once upon a time. . .”
To order any of the above books, please visit our website: Treehouse Books and More
There may be a few parents who may feel awkward with the “read aloud” process and even wonder why so many educators make such a big deal about reading out loud with children on a regular basis. If you have a child who loves to read, he or she is probably reading good quality books. If you are reading aloud to them, they are hearing well-written words and seeing proper sentence structure. If you have them read out loud to you, they are learning to speak proper grammar. Subsequently, they will become better spellers, writers, even better listeners, often reading well above their grade level.
It may be as
simple as reading Goodnight Moon each night to your two year old with their bed-time routine. Or it may be a bit more intricate as you devour suspenseful, page-turner chapter books with your third grader. If you invest fifteen minutes each night with your child, you will soon discover the amazing benefits and positive effects it can have on you both. Caution: cuddling up with your child and a good book can sometimes help wash away the worries of the world.What about older children who may not enjoy reading? Is it important to read aloud to them? I have to say most assuredly--YES!! For the older child, it is critical to find topics of interest to them so they will be more inclined to read with you. Look for collections of shorter stories of adventure or intrigue. Many teens like the popular fantasy genre or novels about sports. You may also be surprised to find that these “reading” moments may open doors for your child to discuss with you other matters on their heart.
Another alternative is to listen to books on tape. We have a series of CD’s in our bookstore by Jim Weiss, a professional storyteller, who reads abridged versions of classics such as Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island and King Arthur. It’s amazing how this man uses his voice for the various characters in each story to bring it to life! This imagination-building activity engages the child’s mind, while enhancing their vocabulary and listening skills. (If you come to our store and mention this blog, we will give you 15% off the purchase of any Jim Weiss CD!)
Where and when do you read aloud to your child? Anytime we go anywhere, we always bring a tote-bag full of books, paper, crayons and pencils. We’ve learned to seize those unplanned moments when we’re stuck in traffic or waiting in a doctor's office. The "where" we read is not as important as the fact that we do read—TOGETHER and often!
It is great for children to have structure and routine, and ideally it is good to read to them every day. Sometimes we need to stop what we’re doing when our child begs, "read to me please," and do it. Other days, it’s enough to get them bathed and in bed at a decent hour. Be flexible and have fun, but be careful that it doesn’t become a tedious ritual. You may wish to vary “how” you read with your child. Have him read one page and you read the next. Or have him draw a picture or doodle quietly while you read the story. Or sometimes have an older sibling read to a younger sibling.
So where do we get started? There are a couple of books which may help parents make good reading selections for their children. The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease is a treasured choice that I would highly recommend. This book unequivocally extols the benefits of reading regularly with your child. Jim Trelease also includes an extensive selection of suggested books that parents may wish to acquire for their personal library.
Valerie & Walter's Best Books for Children. Valerie Lewis is a children's bookstore owner in California and Walter Mayes is their resident storyteller. Both are experts in the field of children's books, and as a new bookstore owner, this has been an invaluable tool in helping me choose quality books for our store. They review over 2,000 titles which are categorized according to title and author, as well as age, interests, and reading levels.
I hope parents who are already reading regularly to their children will continue to do so. And for those who haven’t developed this wonderful habit, why not pick up a well-loved book tonight, snuggle up close with your child, tousle their hair and begin with those famous words, "Once upon a time. . .”
To order any of the above books, please visit our website: Treehouse Books and More
