READING WITH CHILDREN FOR FUN

When I was a Prekindergarten teacher, my favorite time of the day was reading to my class. I loved changing my voice for the different characters and when narrating, I would change the intonation of my voice to keep them engaged. The children would laugh and gasp at all the right parts. I would ask them questions and they would be more than happy to answer them. When library time came for them to read on their own, they would copy how I read the stories and even come up with their own versions.

I also used to hire teachers, when I was a director, based on how they read stories. If they could engage a class with a book, then I knew they could engage them in the classroom as well.

Now, as a mother, I try to read to my children each night before bed. When I miss a night, I feel guilty. Like I cheated them out of disappearing into a different world for a while. There were quite a few nights during the summer that I would let them stay up playing games on their tablets (I know, terrible right? We all do it...LOL) and skip story time. I hated the feeling I would have the next day when I didn't read to them. I felt like a "bad mom." I knew reading to them is important, so when I dropped the ball, I felt like I was doing a disservice to them. After all, how could I, a soon to be published author, have children who do not read! I wanted them to enjoy reading, want to read and to be read to.

So I made a decision that I needed to read to them every night. If I missed one night, it was OK!! As someone told me, "It is fine to drop the ball because it is not a glass vase." So I allowed myself grace for the one night each month we may skip a bedtime book. However I made sure to read two books to them the next night.

Why is this so important to me? Children who read for enjoyment do better in school. A FORBES study in 2023 showed that children that read between the ages of 3 and 10 score better on tests and showed better mental health. They showed fewer signs of stress and depression.

Right now my oldest child is doing very well in reading, it is amazing to me how almost over night he went from asking me what something said to reading it on his own. I was shocked. My youngest wants to display books all over the living room and asks to read them to me. I always let him tell the story his own way and encourage him that he is reading so well.

I want my children to want to read. I want my children to do well in school and in life. If reading to them will help that along, then sign me up!! After all, when they are old enough, I want them to read the books I have written and be proud.

This is a link to the article I read from Forbes. Let me know what you think in the comments!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2023/06/27/children-who-read-for-fun-do-better-in-tests-study-finds/