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July 5, 2002/Tamuz 25 5762, Vol. 54, No. 42
Parents: Don't stop reading to your kids
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
It would be tough to find an educated parent who is unaware of the benefits of reading aloud to their children. Yet, as my daughter and her friends are looking toward the beginning of middle school this fall, I can't think of a single parent of any of her friends who is still reading aloud.
These are overall skilled and conscientious parents and I have spent a lot of time thinking about why they no longer read aloud. Perhaps parents don't realize how beneficial reading aloud is to older children, and that reading aloud shouldn't stop in first grade when children learn how to read themselves.
Why is it important to continue reading to your children through their preteen and teenage years?
First of all, it's a great opportunity to share great books with your child. While many school-age children favor "Choose Your Own Adventure," "Nancy Drew," "Goosebumps" and "Captain Underpants" books, reading with your child allows you to choose quality literature with substance. My guide has always been "The Read-Aloud Handbook" by Jim Trelease (Penguin, $15 paperback). In its fifth printing, the book has sold more than a million copies in two decades. This is the must-have tool for parents who read aloud. In addition to information and statistics about the benefits of reading, the handbook also offers read-aloud tips and techniques. Most importantly, Trelease has included a 114-page "Treasury of Read Alouds" containing descriptive lists of books for children of all ages - everything from picture books to novels and poetry to fairy tales.
Second, it's a wonderful way to improve listening skills. In Trelease's handbook, he cites an example using the once popular "Cosby Show." He explains that while a first grader is perfectly capable of watching and understanding the "Cosby Show," that same child would be unable to read the script - while the show is at the appropriate listening level, it may be beyond a child's reading level. We can challenge our children's minds by reading appropriate books at their listening level, which is generally several grade levels higher than their reading level.
But most importantly, reading to children is fun. It's my favorite part of the day. It does get more challenging as kids get older and busier, but if you make reading aloud a priority in your life, you can overcome tight schedules.
Recently my older daughter and I have been reading "Paul Harvey's 'The Rest of the Story' " (Bantam, $6.99 paperback), a collection of broadcaster Paul Harvey's essays (heard locally on KTAR-AM 620). It's the perfect choice for the busy summer season full of pool parties, sleepovers and out-of-town trips. Each essay is independent of the others, so if there are a couple of days, or even a week, when reading time is interrupted, the flow of a novel is not disrupted.
Part of the fun is having the opportunity to read young adult literature. My daughter has been able to introduce me to dozens of wonderful books, including "Holes," "Harry Potter" and "A Series of Unfortunate Events." In return, I've had the chance to share with her "The Lion, the Witch, and he Wardrobe," "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "The Secret Garden."
For more information about reading aloud to kids, visit www.trelease-on-reading.com.
Contact the writer beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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