Theodore Roosevelt is one of the most revered personalities of the 20th century and is regarded as one of the greatest presidents America ever had. Yet, few know that Theodore Roosevelt was not only a rabid reader but was also a speed reader. A story is told about how he wrote a friend a list of book recommendations with the 100 books he could remember reading from the previous two years. Roosevelt was one of the most well-read men in history and his reading shaped his destiny. The idea that you are what you read was eloquently described by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.” Many experts agree that the earlier in life children are exposed to books and to different vocabulary, the better they learn new words, and the more they benefit from everyday experiences. The evidence is clear: Reading is important for vocabulary, language and social skills development. There are multiple advantages in reading to kids, and there is plenty of research to back that up.
- Reading to your kids awakens their curiosity, imagination and critical thinking skills.
- Children who hear stories are more likely to fall in love with books.
- Reading provides a bonding experience with your child and can be comforting.
- Children who are read to from the earliest moments, express themselves better and therefore become better communicators.
- Reading instills a sense of enjoyment.
- Reading promotes two-way communication.
- Reading opens up a kids world. It introduces them to new things and new places.
- The earlier children learn a word, the better they master it.
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Reading takes kids away from screens. And, my personal favorite:
- reading keeps kids quiet!
A recent study compared the vocabulary in picture books and adults’ vocabulary and found that, whereas adults frequently used the same words, rare words were most likely to be found in books. Books therefore increase vocabulary and are effective tools in helping to build kids’ language and literacy skills. Everyone knows the benefits of reading to kids. Few parents do it. Although a recent report claims that 80% of parents neither have the time nor feel confident in their reading capabilities, it is difficult to determine the accuracy of these findings and the extent to which they can be generalized. What is known for sure is that the culture of reading seems to be on its deathbed. Yet anyone can get into the habit of reading to his or her children.
Roosevelt had some important words of advice:
1 | “A book must be interesting to the particular reader at that particular time.”
It is important to remember that both quality and quantity matter in children’s language and literacy development.
- Your child’s age must be taken into account when choosing which books to read.
- A good book should have a level of vocabulary your child is able to understand.
- Picture books are particularly good for the youngest kids because you can talk to them about the illustrations.
2 | “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Many parents fail to realize that reading with their child for just 10 minutes a day is enough to make a huge difference to their development.
- If you don’t have 30 minutes to spare, read for 10 minutes every day.
- If you don’t have 10 minutes every day, read for 10 minutes every week…
- If you’re unable to read to your kids, talk to them. Make up stories. Talk to them about your day, about their day, about the world.
There are times when the right type of discussion can be even more valuable than reading.
3 | “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
One lesson we can learn from Roosevelt is the importance of taking that first step:
Start small if you must but start.
Six simple steps to help you create a reading culture in your home
1 | Establish a reading tradition
Building a strong reading tradition is a great way to incorporate reading into your family activities. Choose a comfortable reading space and a regular reading schedule and try to stick to it. Establishing a reading tradition makes kids look forward to that time as part of a normal activity. Start with short reading sessions and vary your reading material. If they stop paying attention, it means it’s time to stop. Don’t insist.
2 | Be a model
Kids learn from example. Children whose parents read and seem to enjoy reading are more likely to become readers themselves. Talk about what you’re reading with your partner and kids. If you want your kids to become readers, show them you enjoy reading.
3 | Get into it
Sometimes parents are so obsessed with “reading” that they fail to explore how reading helps kids. Getting into it means being aware of what you’re reading and of what your kids understand. It means encouraging their comments on the stories or illustrations in the books: what do they understand? How do they feel? What do they think? For younger children, illustrations can be powerful. What do kids see when they look at them? Can they identify the animals, colors, food items.
4 | Don’t forget the power of making up stories
Made-up stories are powerful tools. While it might be difficult at first, making up stories is a great way to teach your kids about creativity. It’s important to involve kids in this process as it develops a multitude of skills: creativity, critical thinking skills, imagination… If you have trouble starting, try using creative story cards. Or you can be creative and make some story cards of your own.
5 | Buy them books
If you can afford it, buy them some books, magazines, comic books…and keep them visible. Keep in mind that it’s the quality rather than quantity that matter. Books hidden away will get forgotten, so display books on a bookshelf. Choose the books to buy with your kids. One tip is to determine beforehand which books are suitable for them depending on their age; then let them choose from your list. Visit the library frequently. Keep in mind that not all books are equal – choose quality.
6 | Follow your rhythm
It’s not always easy to find the time to read with your kids. Don’t get into the trap of thinking there’s just one way to do things. Work around your schedule, talk to your kids or make up stories in the car or over dinner. This article was first published on www.raising-independent-kids.com
