by Connie Elledge

Created on: September 17, 2009   Last Updated: September 18, 2009

Reading Aloud With Your Kids

You wake up, morning routine, kids are off to school and you're off to work. Then afterwards, it's homework, dinner, chores, and many more things you do in life. If you're like most parents, you're day in and day out with a BIG routine. You've already established one with your child as well, why not add a little more leisure time? Some thing you both enjoy, and both reap benefits from. READING!

As a parent, I enjoy the bonding time I get with my kids when I read out loud to them. At first they looked at me like "What is she doing!?!" Then afterwards they giggled and followed the story quite well. Of course, you would like to read at an age appropriate level with your young ones. For my 4 year old, I read number, ABC, Dr. Seuss, and any number of picture books. For two 10 year old kids, we just finished reading C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Here's the catch...animate yourself! Adding voices, big or small, can really make reading fun! Not only do the kids listen to the sequence of events, they can retell the story more accurately. You get to enjoy being a kid with pretending and "make believe."

Benefits obtained are: Supporting literacy and reading enjoyment that will enhance your child's future. You establish a better connection between you and your child, which may lead to openness,and more communication with your child. You get to RELAX, (yes, I said relax!) from your busy day with a good book and your kids. Make it count! In pajamas, on a comfy sofa, or bean bags. Even throwing a blanket and some pillows on the floor, the right setting encourages young minds.

There are so much more benefits I can list, but I won't discourage you with the pressure of research and studies. Only with the pressure of having fun by reading aloud with your kids. Using voices, sound effects, or props can really stir the creative juices flowing in your brain and theirs. And, you'll have a world of fun with your little one. See it as down time and not something on your "chore list" to do. Once it becomes a "duty" the enjoyment tends to leave. So make it fun, make it great, make it count. Read aloud with your kids!

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