When is the best time to read to your child? I'll bet you responded bedtime. This is a trick question. Experts suggest that the best time children's picture books and other stories should be read to your child is "as often as possible anytime throughout the day." What is quite shocking is that public records show that only a paltry 50% of parents read to their kids at all. It's hard to believe. How could so many Moms and Dads deprive their little ones of one of the most useful tools they have at their fingertips for aiding in their children's language and cognitive skill development? How could they miss out on the invaluable experience of watching their kids' faces as a new story unfolds, or miss the opportunity to get that close to them? It's a mystery to me.
What's even more disturbing is that no matter how many articles like this are printed; the parents who really need to learn from them won't, because sadly, they don't read themselves! Or, they are too busy to do so. And that means in all likelihood, that when their kids grow up, the same thing will happen and the cycle will continue for generations meaning an awful lot of kids are missing out on one of the most important parts of early childhood development.
Let's get back to the experts for a minute. They recommend reading to kids many times a day. It seems a little excessive based on our hectic lifestyles, doesn't it? But we must remember the benefits of that exercise and try to put it into perspective. They're not talking about 30 minutes at each sitting. Realistically, 20 minutes before bed is good, as long as you can stay awake that long. I have to admit I have frequently found myself dozing off in the middle of a sentence and imagining out loud a completely different story, while my son is shouting, "Dad, Dad, wake up, that's not what it says, wake up!"
During the week, if you can manage to snuggle up with your young ones after homework for a 10-minute story, that would be considerably more than most people ever do. At weekends, there's always time if you make it. We all sleep in a bit. When you wake up, call the smaller kids in for a story in your bed. Not only is it very good for them, but it's also a precious and very loving family moment, and those moments are increasingly rare these days. If you really don't have the time, there's an exciting new product for which I narrate and record other narrators called MobiStories, Virtual Books for Kids www.mobistories.com that allow children to experience story time anytime throughout the day. Wonderful digital books are downloaded to common devices such as an iPhone and computer, and by simply pushing the play button; your child can watch and listen to a story.
So please pass this word on. Your kids will benefit immensely from being read to at least once every day, and if you can manage it twice, three times or much more. Just think of the vocabulary they will pick up as they listen and follow the words going by. Think of the intonation they'll emulate in real life - be animated and they will copy that; their teachers will be most impressed. But best of all, they'll be reading on their own much more quickly, much faster and with much greater comprehension. That can only accelerate their education in the classroom. Come on now, it's a win, win situation. Just do it!
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Sunday, September 28, 2008 View other articles written by Christopher Kennedy(69)
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