Reading Aloud Never Stops

A lot of parents think that they can quit reading to their children when those kids learn to read to themselves. In fact, we often think we should quit reading aloud to our older children so that they will have to read to themselves. But reading on one’s own is quite different from sharing a book with someone else. And I’m suggesting that your kid should get to do both.

A child’s recreational reading level – no matter what level that is – is below his level of understanding. So a kid could understand and enjoy books written at a more difficult level than he can easily read. This is certainly true if your child is a struggling reader but it’s even true if your child reads well. And for kids of any reading level, listening to a book read aloud expands vocabulary, fine-tunes pronunciation of tricky words, and introduces complex sentences and modes of expression. If you read chapter books together, your child will improve her memory and ability to make predictions. Reading to your older child is a painless way to improve her reading and thinking ability. And, not only “painless” but down-right fun.

Here are a few tips to make certain this goes well for you and your child:

• Choose books that are interesting to you both. Avoid reading to your child a book you know she doesn’t like (but that you like or think is “good for her”).
• Read anything and everything. You can read aloud classics, new novels, picture books (yes, even with older kids), magazines, plays, non-fiction, poetry: anything is fine. In fact, reading a variety of different materials is a great idea. But…
• Choose books at your child’s social and emotional level. It’s tempting to rush a child into a book that’s over his head because you love it and really want to read it. But doing that ruins the book for your kid. He can’t really get into it, because it’s too mature or complicated for him. So he’ll be unhappy now and then later, when he might have loved the book, he’ll be turned off because of the negative early experience. Don’t hurry. There’s plenty of time.
• Read for the pleasure of the reading. Don’t make this a quiz or a reading exercise for your child or a vocabulary lesson. Just read to her and enjoy.
• Read every day if you possibly can. You can include younger kids on the couch if they want to be there, but this reading time should be focused on your older child. Read other stuff to the younger kids.
• Enjoy your child’s company. Reading together is a great way to get in some quality one-to-one time and develop the bond between the two of you. When you read aloud, your child gets your time and attention but without feeling any pressure.

The best way to start reading to an older child is never to have stopped. Keep reading, right through the preschool years, into elementary school and beyond. It’s harder to start reading with an older kid if you have to start from zero, but it can be done. Find a book you know will be a fun one to read, one that’s not too long or too serious. Ask your child if you could read it together, with you doing the reading. See what reaction you get and go from there. (An alternative way to read together is to read the same book separately and then talk about it, sort of like a very, very informal book club. If your child resists being read to, then this second way might work for you.)

Reading to your child is one of parenting’s greatest pleasures. Isn’t it nice to know it never has to stop? Read to your child – even your older child - today!