Literacy Tip: Let Your Kids See You Reading

I've had a long week. I had a long to do list on Monday and had the kind of week where I just had to keep adding things. Even though it's Friday, I've barely made a dent in it. So to keep things light here, for both you and me, I want to share a quick literacy tip.

You read it in the title: just let your kids see you reading. Books, ebooks, magazines, articles. Let them see you read and enjoy reading. Show them that reading is important to you. Kids want to do everything their parents are doing, so give them good reading habits to imitate.

Today my four-year-old noticed me reading and we had this conversation:

N: You like to read all the time, Mom.

Me: Yes, I love reading.

N: But you read your books in your head because you don't know all the words.

Me: Actually, I just like to read to myself and I think the words in my head, but I know most the words.

N: Oh. And we would get really annoyed if you read your books out loud all the time.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

In celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday, March 2 is Read Across America Day.

We love Dr. Seuss because his nonsense words are fun to read aloud. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? is one of my favorites because of all the funny sounds you get to make with your kids. Dr. Seuss books are also good for early readers, especially repetitive ones like Green Eggs and Ham. And what would Christmastime be without reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?

Little Critters I Can Read! Books

If you've ventured into the realm of early reader books, you probably know how annoying many of them are. My daughters love princess ones . . . but I really, really don't. They also like Pinkalicious early reader books. But I find those ones not only annoying, but also too advanced. They're too long and have too many words that are hard to sound out. My young reader gets tired and frustrated and I end up reading more of the book than she does.

The Little Critters I Can Read! books by Mercer Mayer are a remedy to that. They are less annoying than some kids books and the writing is simple. My daughter doesn't get overwhelmed with the length of the story or with too many long words that are hard to sound out. And all of my children like the stories.

What are some of your books for reading with your young readers?

___________

Little Critters
By Mercer Mayer
Publisher: I Can Read!
Year: Various

The Importance of Bedtime Stories

I'm grateful to have a mother-in-law who makes reading books with my kids a fun part of every visit.

A recent article in The Guardian discusses the importance of bedtime stories in literacy. And they weren't just talking reading stories to your youngest children. The concern was that once children can read alone, their parents stop reading aloud to them. Continuing to read aloud to them helps cement a love of reading and is great bonding time.

I was lucky enough to have a mom who read out loud to us all no matter how old we were. Her voice introduced me to Little House on the Prairie, Where the Red Fern Grows, and other classic books for children. Her example helped me become a mother who reads to her children. We read a bedtime book to each of them each night and I've started reading aloud from a chapter book to help during the transition from being at school and being at home.

My children are still small, so bedtime stories are an easy part of our routine. But this article was a good reminder to continue to read aloud to them even when they learn to read on their own.

Is reading to your kids a part of your bedtime routine? If you have older children, do you still read books out loud with them?