[nancynic]

Hi,

One of the things I loved most to do with my kids was read to them. In the rocking chair while they were on my lap, in the lake (in the summer) in inner tubes! When there was a thunder and lightning storm, both boys would sit with me (with candles lighting the pages of the books) and we would read til the electricity came back on. These times of reading together were times of learning and bonding.

My boys (young men now) still love to read - for college as well as for pleasure! And the librarian of their High School reminded us (during parent visits) that it's always a good idea to read with our children, as they get older, to read the same books and discuss them!

Reading is a great way to teach our kids and to learn about them, how they think and how they learn.

Do you have experiences of reading with your kids to share with us?

NancyNic

[mckenna]

i got my son when he was 3 months old and have read him books since that time. he has so many books and of course he has his favorites that we read over and over but he also likes to hear other books. he is two now and a very active child but when ever i need him to calm down, i just get out a book and he sits to listen almost immediatly. his teacher and the parents as teacher educator have both commented on how they have never seen such an active child have such a long attention span for books. at only 2 years and 2 months, he can already repeat some of the lines from his favorite books. i must admit i am not a huge reader but the more i see his love for books the more books i read for myself to be a good example for him in the future and i am getting great enjoyment as well

[Judilyn]

I am a big supporter of the importance of reading to children. I too started very young with my children. In fact while they were still in my womb for my bio children. All 3 of my children have superb reading levels, langauge and vocabulary skills. They all love to read.

My son has also been very active but would also sit still for story time. Sometimes we would spend hours reading books. Recently I was doing some Spring Cleaning and I was sorting through their books that they have out grown. You know I just couldn't part with some of them so I packed them away for future grandchildren(?). You know the ones that we read over and over again like "Good Night Moon" and "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish". I am sure that one day they will be a treasured story once again in my home.

Judilyn

[nancynic]

Hi,

Oh it's so true about the calming effects of reading. It's great that for such a young child that attention span is right up there!

And what you say about being a role model is so important! Kids do what their parents do, so if they see us reading, they will read!

Thanks for your post!

NancyNic

[nancynic]

Hi~

Thanks for your post. I know just what you mean about those books that bring back such wonderful memories ... how could we part with them!

You've got all of us remembering favorite childrens' books with big smiles on our faces.

NancyNic

[Sharon]

My father read to me nightly throughout my childhood, and even when I was in my early teens. He's a firefighter, which meant he works 24 hours on, 48 off. So two nights out of three, whenever he wasn't on shift, he'd read me to sleep. This is my best memory of childhood.
It is SO important to read to your children and instill a love of reading in them. A child who loves to read can educate himself/ herself about so many things ... as long as your child never stops reading, he or she will never stop learning.
As a parent, I've tried to follow my father's excellent example and read to my son on a nightly basis... I was very consistent about it when he was younger, but now that he's eleven he usually prefers to read himself to sleep.
I miss reading aloud to my son, but I also try to keep in mind that it's a GOOD thing that he now wants to read books on his own. It means I have succeeded in instilling a love of reading in him.
~Sharon

[nancynic]

Hi and thank you for your post, Sharon. I loved reading your memories of being read to and how that instilled a love of reading in you. And that when a child reads, that child learns!

It's also important to watch movies and television with children and hopefully keep the TV to a minimum and make sure the TV programs are educational and structive. Reading and watching movies and TV with children and discussion are great ways to teaching children and bond with them! And summer is a great time to do these things together.

NancyNic