You read to your children when they were young, but now they can do so independently. Are there benefits to keeping up the practice? By third grade, many parents stop reading aloud, rightly believing their children able to go it alone.While this is certainly true, it is significant to realize that for many, interest in reading takes a huge dip at this age. Books have become more challenging, school work more complicated, and reading more burden than pleasure.Here are some reasons it’s worth continuing to read aloud:
1. Reading aloud brings pleasure.
I’ll admit it. At thirty-five, I still love hearing books read aloud. I listen regularly to books on CD as I run errands. I love it when my husband says, “Listen to this!” and shares something he’s currently reading. As a teenager, I remember asking my sister to read to me while I was sick. Even though I felt too old for it, listening was an escape from my discomfort.
2. Reading aloud builds community.
When you share a story with others, you participate together in the world the author creates. You experience the story along with your children, allowing for a “touchstone” experience: one all of you can refer back to, share in common, and understand.
3. Reading aloud creates memories.
My father read half of the Little House on the Prairie books to me (I made him stop when I realized Laura’s dog, Jack, was going to die). My mother read a chapter of Nancy Drew to me everyday after school. These rich memories move beyond the content shared. The security, the undivided attention, and the continuity my parents offered me in these reading sessions were beyond compare.
I often tell my sons nothing is better than two boys, a book, and a blanket. We snuggle, read, and enjoy being together. I hope by doing this I’m building the same sorts of memories my parents gave me.
4. Reading aloud exposes the listener to language usage, new vocabulary, and new ideas.
Children who experience literature build richer vocabularies and hear the varied rhythms of language. The more exposure, the more natural and broad this language development is. This introduction to new topics, places, people, and ideas is limitless. So much I’ve learned of the world around me I first discovered in a book.
5. Reading aloud challenges the listener beyond their current reading level.
Most experts agree that, when hearing them read aloud, children can readily grasp books two reading levels beyond their own. Don’t be afraid to give a challenging book a try. I have picked up many mid-grade novels to read to my older son and have found his brother, two years younger, just as involved. A younger child might not comprehend everything, and that’s okay. Read with the big picture in mind.
6. Reading aloud broadens options.
My third-grader is a voracious reader, but he’ll gravitate to the same books again and again. On occasion, he’ll bring home books from the library I suggest, but often won’t pick them up on his own. If we read together, though, most of the time he’s hooked. Sharing with an adult can make a new book more attractive.
7. Reading aloud opens discussion.
As our children grow older and more independent, they naturally pull away. By reading aloud, you can share together the choices characters make, good and bad. Discussion isn’t forced when it grows out of stories.
Two-time Newbery winner, Katherine Paterson, has said, “Books are a dress rehearsal for life.” There is safety in witnessing events through the distance literature creates. Equip your child for his own future. Read tough stories together, intentionally laying groundwork for his intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth.
How do I read aloud to my older children?
I think older children need to be told by an adult there is nothing wrong with continuing the read aloud experience. If you enthusiastically approach your child, though it might take several attempts, you will have a positive response.
Here are some ideas:
- Pick up a novel your child loves and ask if she’d like to read it with you.
- Find a new book by your child’s favorite author and share it together.
- If your child’s class is reading a novel, get a copy so that you might share the same book at home. As a teacher, I found this especially beneficial for those struggling with comprehension.
- Pick a novel for your next family road trip. Read it in the car, in the hotel room before bed, or while you wait for a meal in restaurants.
Writers write, ultimately, to create meaning. What better way is there to connect with a story than alongside your growing child?
This post originally ran September 2009 as a guest post for steadymom.com
Interesting concept. Now, if I could only get my older kids off the laptop, iPod, Facebook, Skye, DS….
I don’t have kids yet, so I can’t read aloud to them, and I’m not living at home, so I can’t get my mom to read to me anymore. But I did have a boyfriend who would read aloud with me – we’d switch off every chapter. I still love reading aloud!
Mine did not–a lot was happening when I was in third grade, and my Mom was lucky I was so independent. I read to myself.
I read aloud to my college roommate almost every night, though! We call it story time, and it’s a great way to bond.
The only time I remember my parents reading aloud to me after I could read on my own was when I was hospitalized after a car accident. They read classics: Little Women, and maybe Treasure Island. I was ten.
In college I had a professor for Techniques of Teaching Reading who read aloud to our class every day. It was everyone’s favorite part of that class, and it introduced us to lots of new children’s authors, because she read a small part of a different novel, or a whole picture book each day.
My parents stopped reading to me around 3-4th grade. Then, I had an English teacher in high school that started class by reading a book. It was interesting to see how everyone got involved in the story, especially those who, unlike me, didn’t often have a book in their hands.
Sometimes, I hesitate because on the really great books, I’d rather them experience it on their own. I’d much rather read a book than listen. But I really should make the effort – esp. over the summer when we have more time!
I have to credit my Mom to always reading to us-she was the audio book-and helping instill the great love of reading I have today.
Great post.
Great post, Caroline. Yes, my parents continued reading to us even when we were old enough to read to ourselves. My eight-year-old still love to have someone read to her, and I don’t see that ending any time soon. She is very often even willing to sit in on the picture books I read to my younger children. Reading time is my favorite time of the day!
My mum stopped reading to me once I started to read for myself but I remember the teachers reading aloud until I was about 10. I know I would have resisted it during my teen years and I think that it’s important to give youngsters that space to become independent. Plenty of time when they grow up for them to be reintroduced to the joy of being read to.
I actually prefer silent reading because I feel I absorb more. But last year, I read the Harry Potter books aloud with my mom and we now have some awesome memories to share.
Even now, when I’m really sick (which is rare, thank goodness), she’ll read my devotionals to me, or a chapter of the book I’m currently reading.
I think reading aloud is very important in a child’s development. So when I do have children, I will warn them upon birth that they will be exposed to literature and lots of it.
Wonderful. I have a goal to continue to read to my kids, just because we enjoy doing it together, but I think it can contribute to great intelligence and strong family bonds.
I know a woman who reads novels to all six of her kids, ranging from 13 to 3. They love it! And she has fantastic, intelligent kids. They’re a great family.
Yep, we read books as a family through junior high at least. My husband and I still read aloud to each other when a book comes out that we’re both excited about or we find a book we love that we want to share. I love the read aloud experience. It’s like watching a movie, but more fun.
Totally agree. I read with my kids until they were in high school. I’ve taught all levels of middle school and I read pretty much daily with them. They love it!
This is so great!
My 5 year old son is already kind of past the night time picture book stage 🙁
He was loosing interest in bedtime stories until I broke out the big guns.
He’s looooving Harry Potter.
And it is so exciting to realise how big the reading world has become for him.
I read to my daughter until she was about 10 or 11 and then it kind of fell away as she read more lengthy books. We did share tons of great experiences reading together. It’s so important to do to instill a love of reading in kids.
Great post! Thanks for sharing! My mom did stop reading to me when I was older. I read to my kids and my eight year old boy still loves to listen to a chapter (or two) every night. It is one of my favorite parts of a day…
Caroline, I’ve just caught up on the news about your book. I’m so happy for you! I can’t wait to own it in print. Congratulations!!
My son and I read a book together recently — we alternated pages. He’s 25. I hope we’ll read together again soon.
Even though we have children who are 19, 18, 15, and 13, we still do family read-alouds. It’s wonderful bonding, and the kids love it. Besides the cookies and hot chocolate will draw them, even if the book isn’t their favorite.
I still read with both my boys. The eldest (sixth grade) still enjoys listening to me. I tryt o pick books we both will enjoy: we have loved the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series. I make him read as well, giving me the opportunity to assess his skills, correct pronunciations, define words, and explain difficult passages or idioms. I think he also finds comfort in it.