Reading Aloud To Your Child

Very often I hear from parents about the at-home struggle of getting their children to read each night. Often times, there are tears involved, from children and parents alike, and usually this results into a diminishing of the "love of reading." So my response to these parents is always to end this battle. As parents, hundreds of times a day we have to "pick our battles." I'm saying- this is one battle you can choose to let go of by simply reading to your child. 


Parents have a hard time with this advice...and I understand why. We, for some reason or another, believe the only way children are going to become better readers is if they're actually doing the reading themselves. And while there may be argument for that when it comes to actual word-reading, that's not a valid argument in regards to the many other aspects of reading. By reading aloud to your children, you're sparking interest in books, you're giving them the opportunity to access more complex ideas that they would not otherwise be exposed to, you're exposing them to vocabulary and language patterns that are not part of their every day speech...and the list goes on.


So, next time your child refuses to read on his/her own...instead of going to battle with your child..take it as a good opportunity to "cuddle up" with them and a book. 


I've included some links that highlight the value of reading aloud to your child as well as some read aloud tips. 

Why it's important to read aloud with your kids, and how to make it count

Study says reading aloud to children, more than talking, builds literacy

The Importance of Reading Aloud to Big Kids

Reading Aloud with Children of All Ages

7 Tips for Reading to Older Children

Talking About Reading

Talking About Reading 

As I have been working in classrooms these past couple of months- I've noticed the excitement in students as they get the opportunity to discuss what they're reading with an adult. They feel so important as well as proud of their work. One question I'm often asked by parents is, "How do I talk to my child about their reading?" From a parent's perspective- I can understand wanting to make sure the "right" questions are being asked. I'm here to tell you that any conversation you have about your child's book- is the "right" conversation. 

Allowing your child time to share what they've read promotes so many healthy habits as readers. By just saying to your child "Tell me about your book"- they have to organize their thoughts and retell the story/book in a way that will make sense to the reader. These conversation also usually lead children into making connections to the text and other things they know (other books, movies, real-life). To encourage your child to go back into the text to "prove" their claims- you can simply say, "Show me!" These conversation help hold children accountable for their reading- when they know they will get to talk about what they've read- they pay closer attention to the story and the details because they like to sound like "experts" when they share their book.

So- the next time your child reads, take a few minutes, and say, "Tell me about your book!"
If you're looking for more specific questions to guide your conversation with your child, check out these links: 

Tips for Talking About Books With Your Child

Book Talk

Questions to Ask Your Child After Reading a Fiction or Nonfiction Text

Questions to Ask Your Student Before, During and After Reading