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Sunday, December 7, 2008

Benefits of Reading with your Kids

Once upon a time, parents read to their children before bedtime…before the regular intervention by television, computers and telephones. The children benefited from close contact with their families, they honed the ability to sit still and follow a story, their imaginations were boosted by all the creative input, and reading skills were put in place before schooling even started. And they all lived happily ever after.
Well OK, maybe the last bit is stretching it but the rest is not a fairy story. The benefits of reading to our children are immeasurable but in a world where screens rather than pages dominate, we need to try and re-introduce a passion for books and all they can offer. Here´s how:

Allowing children some scope to choose what they want to read is essential. Your child might not want to read from a classic but could happily sit for hours with comics or magazines…in this case a magazine subscription gives them fresh material every month.
We have to accept also that times have moved on, and whilst curling up on the sofa with a good book appeals to us as parents, maybe finding a website with reading material and games that encourage reading aloud may grab their attention.
Visiting the library is a fantastic way to let children browse through all the available books, letting them find one that triggers their imagination. Many libraries have reading groups for children, encourage them to try this once or twice…seeing other children get enthusiastic about books might encourage them. (Library books also encourage them to respect other peoples’ property as well, never a wasted lesson.)
One thing that never fails to get my kids attention is when mummy turns into Sinbad the Sailor or the Gruffalo…act out the story, make it come alive! Let them see what good fun it is, and turn reading into a game by asking what they think will happen on the next page.
Never discourage interruptions; it shows the story is prompting questions and triggering their imagination…just what you wanted!
Reading is a really special gift we can all give to our children everyday, if only for 10 minutes. It doesn´t cost a lot, is great fun and is a real investment in their future.


Type rest of the post here

43 comments:

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I dont like reading books

Sherry Go Sharing said...

the words are too small

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I dont like glasses

Sherry Go Sharing said...

My eyes get tired easy

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I dont read when I was a kid

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I am lazy when I was a kid

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I like last minute do homework when I was a kid

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I love play more than study when I was a kid

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I could backwards when I was a kid no wonder my math so bad!

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I love to watch than read.

Enchie said...

Ha! 3rd. Thanks! I totally forgot that I need to comment to earn points. Naka habol ;)Nice Sherry!

Sherry Go Sharing said...

Enchie you can do it!

Sherry Go Sharing said...

I can do it, so can you :)

Mommy Jes said...

hahahah look at them go!!! sherry has lots of comments i dunno thats even possible!!!

Mommy Jes said...

ngayun alam ko na...gnun pla yn ahahah!

Mommy Jes said...

hmmm i love reading before coz we dont have television sa province

Mommy Jes said...

nung hih school kasi ako sa lolo at lola ako nakatira!

Mommy Jes said...

kaso comic binaasa ko ahahha!

Mommy Jes said...

i love fantasy comics and superstar and aliwan ahahaha! do you know those?

Mommy Jes said...

nung nag college ako ayaw ko n magabasa unless kelangan!

Mommy Jes said...

hehehe syempre you have to read those classical novels for you thesis!! arg! that's parusa!

Mommy Jes said...

now even im infront of the internet i still love to ask question than researching on my own! ahahaha!

Mommy Jes said...

my husband used to tell me, "magbasa ka kaya!" or "nasa harap k kaya ng internet!" ahaah! sarcastic huh!

Mommy Jes said...

hubby loves to read book, IT books, "Rich dad Poor dad, and everything! ahhahah! i love my huby being like that!

Mommy Jes said...

he also reads news on the internet pa uwi! NBA, and everything under the sun!

Mommy Jes said...

kaya mas marami p syang alam n balita hehehe kahit nsa house lng ako!

Mommy Jes said...

My panganay dn, binabasahan ko pero d makatagl, nabo bore!

Mommy Jes said...

gusto nya lang tgnan ang pictures!

Mommy Jes said...

kaya minsa ung maliit lng n books binibili ko for her para d mabore!

Mommy Jes said...

pero si ethan ung boy ko, mahilg sa book, fav nya nga yung latest n binili ko, ung "the monkey and the turtle" =)

Mommy Jes said...

si ISHI addicted to DVD's!

sweetytots said...

jes, you are doing well on the commenting you are now on 3rd place.. you already surpassed Enchies comments.. So if you continue commenting this way.. You'll be able to get the toy for your Ishi.

Mommy Jes said...

sanaa pag nag aral na si ishi makahiligan nya din magbasa! =)

Mommy Jes said...

si ethan sana ipagpatuloy nya ang pagbabasa ahaah! opps nagising ang baby ko arg!

Mommy Jes said...

oh kelan b mag e end ang contest sweetytots?

Mommy Jes said...

i have eye glasses already kakabasa ko sa madilim!

Mommy Jes said...

nung nsa province kasi ako nagtitipid sila sa ilaw so i have to turn off the light by pm! i am using candila para makapagbasa! ahahha

Mommy Jes said...

ahhh para n dn akong nag ba blog coz im telling stories now!

Mommy Jes said...

come on chris wag k n humabol ako n hahabol ahahah para makuha ko ang dress up bear! ahahhaa

Mommy Jes said...

kahit me salamin ako ayaw kong isuot kasi istorbo! hihihi 100/100 n ko eh!

Chris said...

i love reading myself..when i was in high school i used to read pocketboots.. im not sure if you guys know about "sweet dreams" ? :)

Chris said...

reading helped me to be exposed to different cultures, lifestyles and it widened my views in life...

Chris said...

as a christian, reading the Bible and books helped me grow too.