Reading to Your Children…Over & Over Again
October 13, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Filed under Parenting
“But Dad, you skipped some of the story,” Beth admonished Jim, as they sat on the couch where he read to her while I got supper on the table.
Is this a familiar refrain in your home? Your children want a story over and over. If you try to leave out any words or phrases, or skip a page, they remind you immediately. Sometimes you wonder why you’re doing this.
However, if they become readers themselves and develop a love of books and story, your time spent is very worthwhile. Beth became an avid reader and still is as an adult. She’s passed this love of reading on to her children.
I recall Mother reading to my brothers, sister and me at bedtime. We piled on one bed or the other and listened to Heidi, Robinson Cruso, The Swiss Family Robinson, and Robert Lewis Stevenson’s poetry. Those memories have lingered with me over the years and I’m pleased Jim and I could pass along the family heritage of reading.
Treasure those moments of story time. Let the children begin reading, too. Soon they will be reading to younger siblings, as I did with mine when Mother was busy.
Share with us your story times.
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
My son (who is almost 4) is really into non-fiction books (encyclopedias, practically) about insects, dinosaurs and airplanes right now. Storytime is a little dry as we plod through these huge books trying to pronounce all these dinosaur names. How I long for a nice Clifford story . . .