Reading out aloud to child is activity both can enjoy
LIFE is hectic for parents of young children. Their days are jam-packed with responsibilities and activities, and little ones require a lot of help and guidance. Every trip out the door involves brushing multiple sets of teeth, attaching countless shoes to the proper feet, zipping numerous jackets, and securing seatbelts and car-seat buckles.
Evenings can be chaotic, and by the time children are tucked into their beds, parents enjoying their first moment of solitude of the day might also recall the things that slipped through the cracks. Often that includes reading to their children.
It may at times feel like another impossible obligation to fulfil, but reading aloud does not have to become an additional burden or activity to squeeze into an already overcrowded schedule. Carve out time to share a book with your child.
Think outside the bed
That is a natural time to curl up with a book, but given the crazy schedules of families, it can be challenging to carve out time at the end of the day to spend 15 minutes with a book or two.
As bedtimes get pushed back, parents and children may become tired and grumpy. Reading can become a battle of wills or a chore that gets rushed. Consider finding other quiet moments throughout the day to share a story, such as bath time, meal time or while taking a break in the afternoon.
Every minute counts
Babies, in particular, have trouble focusing on any one activity for a sustained amount of time.
Introduce read-aloud times incrementally. Start with a minute or two, several times a day. You will notice a gradual increase in your baby’s attention span. Perhaps you only read a page or two before your child wiggles away. That is fine. Do not give up; try reading a few more minutes at a later time. Introduce your infant to a variety of board books, interactive tactile books, and books with flaps and other fun surprises.
Banish books from the shelves
Any early childhood classroom teacher will tell you that books that are neatly placed on a crowded shelf are not the books that children will choose to read.
Have you noticed how books are placed side by side, with the covers showing, at book stores and libraries? Sometimes books are propped up on the tops of shelves or in baskets strategically placed where they might be picked up and browsed through.
Keep books in your home in smaller baskets, on the tops of tables or other furniture, or on a low shelf next to your couch.
When books are stored within reach where you and your children sit and relax, you’ll be more likely to indulge in a shared reading activity when you have a couple of idle minutes.
Take reading on the road
Fill a bag with a few favourite books to keep in the car. Encourage your children to “read” the stories to you while you’re driving.
Read signs and posters aloud as you travel. Look for books in waiting areas. If you don’t see any at first, ask the receptionist if any are available; they may have a secret stash behind the counter.
Use various resources
Look for books at charity shops, garage sales and other places that recycle goods.
Visit the library. Ask librarians, teachers and bookstore employees for recommendations – they love to share their experiences and opinions.
Check out anthologies of picture books and poems to expose your child to a variety of texts and authors. And re-read favourite stories.
Return visits to books offer fresh perspectives and can generate new conversations. Incorporating the minor adjustments listed above in the attitudes, perspectives and environment of a family’s daily routine can result in more time spent sharing and enjoying the stories, rhymes and information. – The Washington Post