08/20/2021
I just finished this book, “The Read-Aloud Family” and only wish that I would have heard about it sooner. Wow, there was so much valuable information to soak up!
My main takeaways are that reading aloud to our children is something we can and should do even until they’re teenagers! I know a lot of us are under the notion that once our kids can read for themselves, we no longer need to read to them, but that turns out to be far from the truth. There is a lot of value in reading aloud to them even when they can read. For one thing, it takes pressure off of them to do all of the decoding that happens when we read. If we do this hard work, it frees up their brain so that they can actually enjoy the story, comprehend it, and reflect on it.
Reading aloud also gives us a chance to bond and connect with our children. Have you ever read an amazing book and asked a friend to read it too just so you could discuss it together? When we read aloud, we are giving our children the opportunity to discuss books with us. So, not only are we bonding when we read to them but then there is the additional time where we can talk about the book that brings us together.
Additionally, reading aloud at home helps our children to grow a love for books that can get squashed at school. I don’t know about you but I was not a fan of being told I had to read a particular book so that I could answer questions in a test about it or write a book report. There’s something about doing that that just takes the joy away from the whole reading experience.
Also, reading a variety of books is an important way that our children can experience multiple lives and challenges before they even leave our homes. So, if we give them these opportunities, we are setting them up for greater success for their future.
Another thing I learned is that reading helps to build empathy. When we dive into a book, we become a part of it and we can start to view things from a perspective that we may not have otherwise. There are so many amazing stories out there, both fiction and non-fiction that can help us to grow in our compassion for others and become better people. (Post continued in comments)
