The Importance of the Read Aloud – Part 2 – Just for Parents

In an earlier post I encouraged classroom teachers to continue the practice of reading aloud to their students, something that sometimes gets pushed aside due to the amount of material teachers are expected to cover with their students.  The read aloud in the classroom is important because I believe it inspires students to become readers by showing them how enjoyable a story can be.

This post, on the other hand, is for parents.  How many of us, me included sometimes, stop reading to our children once they know how to read on their own?  Our children work to fulfill their school reading logs reading lots of wonderful books by themselves, but in our crunch for time, we often forget we should still be reading to them.

 

A few of my favorites

Reading aloud to your children is important for so many reasons.

It’s a great way to model good oral expression while reading.
It’s a fantastic way for your child to enjoy a book that is above his/her reading level.
It’s an opportunity to have discussions about a variety of topics in a non-threatening context.
It’s a super way for you to show your child your own love of reading.
It’s a wonderful way to spend quality time with your child each day.

As for how long you should continue reading to your children, I say forever.  Who doesn’t love to be read to?  One of my favorite parts when attending writing conferences and book festivals is listening to authors read their own work.  There’s just something so special about someone reading to you, and just think, you are able to give something that special to your own children every day.

Happy Reading,

Nancy