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Learning to Appreciate Books and Reading
By Brenda Hyde
As parents, we are bombarded with advice on educating our children;
homeschooling, public school, private school, or tutoring. It's an
endless debate that we all participate in at some point. However, I
think we can all agree on one thing: we want our children to have an
appreciation for reading and literature. This can prepare them for
college, working and life in general. So, how do we accomplish this?
Starting Early
When you are pregnant, and friends and family start planning
showers or asking about gifts, be sure to ask for a lullaby
book, a book of rhymes and a few of those indestructible cloth
and plastic books for babies. As you go through those months of
waiting for the birth of your baby, practice lullabies and
recite the rhymes. That little one in your womb will
love the vibration of your voice and you will get some needed
practice.
Memories of childhood
Children need to be around books. The memories associated with stories
they loved will be with them for a lifetime. Kids need to learn that
books are special. You can do this by teaching them to take care of
their books. If you see them writing in one gently but firmly tell them
"no". When they are older, talk with them about putting their books on a
special shelf or drawer in their room. Make the books accessible, and
trust them to take care of them. When my children were infants, I would
show them how to turn pages and "help"them read. You will build a
foundation for the love of reading before they even grasp what it is.
Start a reading journal for them when they are young and they can finish
it themselves when they become older. This will give them a record of
those treasured stories that they can later share with their own
children. There are blank books available that you can use to record
your children's reading adventures. As your kids get older
encourage them to write a little about each book and why they liked
it. I can't tell you how many adults have emailed me hoping I can
help them figure out a book they remember from their childhood.
A reading journal will become a wonderful and useful keepsake for
your children.
You will find that you can quickly gather a collection of children's
literature by shopping at garage sales, thrift stores, finding deals
on the internet and asking family to buy books instead of toys!
You may have to encourage this with family members, but it's
worth it. My kids love getting books at birthdays and holidays. I've
involved both sets of Grandparents in looking out for secondhand
books also, and we have a wonderful collection!
Setting an example
The best thing we can do as parents is set examples for our children. If
they see us reading, and enjoying books they will want that too. My
parents were avid readers during my childhood. We went to the small
library in our town each week, and we had books and encyclopedias
at home that were always fascinating to us. We loved reading!
When I became older I realized that not everyone was a "reader".
When parents don't set an example children often grow up with
no interest in books. Children need to see that reading is fun, and
not a chore or something to be dreaded.
Scheduled Story Time
Set up story times for your children. My children and I always read
before bedtime. Every night, no exceptions. If time is tight for some
reason, we choose a small book. Your story time needs to be a
special time that is never pushed aside. When they are older they
can take turns reading too. I believe this is a tradition that will make
an impression on your children. It is a special time they will never
forget. Story telling is an art every parent can learn. If you read in
monotone, too fast or too slow, kids lose interest. Read like
you would want to be read to!
Babies should also be included during story time from the time they
are brought home from the hospital. Don't go into a separate room
to read; let everyone be together for this family time! Our daughter
wasn't quite a year old when we found her sitting alone with a book,
turning the pages and making noises as if she was reading!
We have all heard the expression "comfort food". Wouldn't it be nice if
your children grew up and had "comfort books" that they could share with
their own children? We can create memories of books and literature that
will follow them through their lives. Why not start your reading journal
today?
Recommended Reading
Lullabies : An Illustrated Songbook
by Richard Kapp (Editor)
Count on Me : 10 Books in a Box
by Alice Provensen
Read-Aloud Rhymes for the Very Young
by Jack Prelutsky (Editor), Marc Tolon Brown (Illustrator)
My Peter Rabbit Cloth Book (A Beatrix Potter Cloth Book)
by Beatrix Potter
About the Author
Brenda Hyde is a Mom of three, a freelance writer and
editor of the six newsletters here at Seeds of Knowledge.
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