Reading Aloud to your Kids

One of my favorite memories from high school is having my English teacher my junior and senior year read aloud to our class. We were all 17 or 18, fully capable of reading ourselves but everyday he would read at least a chapter of a book aloud to us. There was something magical in giving our brains a break and listening to the words, journeying through a book together as a class.

Your kids are never to old to be read aloud to. Let me repeat for those in the back, your kids are NEVER to old to be read aloud to! While everyone is in the house for awhile I would suggest you take this time to journey as a family to Narnia, Hogwarts, the Land of Stories or any of the myriad of destinations available in literature.

There are many benefits of reading aloud regardless of if your children are independent readers or not. Reading aloud helps your child:

• Develop stronger vocabulary
• Build connection between the spoken and written word
• Increase their attention span
• Promote bonding
• Allows for processing and discussion
• Develop empathy
• Exercise imagination

hoopla

OverDrive and libby

Even though the library isn't open right now for you to come in and get physical books our digital resources are always open! There are thousands of books and audio books available on Hoopla, Overdrive, or Libby.  Here are some titles I'd suggest that are available as e-books or e-audio:

For Pre-schoolers

• The Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo
• James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
• The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
• Ivy and Bean series by Annie Barrows

                    

For Early Elementary

• The BFG by Roald Dahl (Or Matilda or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
• Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osborne
• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

For Upper Elementary and Teens

• Peter and the Starcatchers series by Dave Barry
• Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• The Land of Stories series by Chris Colfer
• The Green Ember series by S.D. Smith
• Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

If you find it hard to read aloud you can always listen to the audio book version as a family. While you listen it's okay for you and your children to engage in other activities together and still be able to listen and comprehend.  Color together, work on a puzzle, build with Lego's, knit or crochet, play with play-doh, etc.

And just in case you're wondering the book I'm currently reading to my kids (ages 13, 11, and 9) is Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'dell.