19 Lessons I'll Share With You After 19 Years Of Homeschooling - #7

#7 -Read aloud to your children.

I am just going to direct you to the expert on this subject, Jim Trelease. I can add very little to what this man has proclaimed for years.

My own experience with reading aloud to my children is colored with wonderful moments, great memories, and the opportunity to experience my favorite pieces of literature over and over again. 

In case you don't have time to visit Jim Trelease's site right away, here are a few key points to remember.

• Read to your children from the moment they are born until they go out on their own.
• Read to your children frequently and consistently.
• Read all types of literature from easy readers to classics. Mix it up.
• Read books that are enjoyable for you to read and for your kids to hear. Some literature is just not easy to read-aloud. As much as I love Mark Twain the dialect in some of his literature is painful for me to read-aloud.
  
• Make sure your kids see you reading. They need to see reading is important in your life.

There is nothing more grounding and calming for the hearts and minds of your kids than reading aloud to them. When my house is out of control reading aloud is the best medicine. I can't think of anything better for teaching children to sit quietly and pay attention than reading aloud to them.

You will build memories that will last a life time. My older children still talk about their favorite books we shared. Those characters, lessons, and stories are part of our history as a family.

FYI - Our all time favorite read-aloud series is Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy and Tacy Series. My kids have never tired of hearing this series read over and over again.

Comments

[Amy Tong]

Always love your tips and advises. I agree, reading is so important and I'm glad that I also start them early. :) Great tips, my friend.

[momofnine]

Thanks for stopping by, Amy! It is so important, one study concluded that there is nothing better for prepping your kids for standardized tests than reading aloud to them. How easy is that?!

[flmom]

Agreed, agreed, agreed!