April 22, 2013

benefitsofreadingaloudtochildrenWhy Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever

bedtime routine

Part 4 of our Soothing Routine Series

Would you believe me if I told you there was a simple way to help your child transition from a busy day to a restful night, help them perform well academically, entertain and intrigue their mind, all while strengthening the bonds between parent and child? Oh, and it’s entirely free.

Too good to be true? Think again. Reading out loud to your children accomplishes each and every one of these objectives.

It sounds simple. It is simple. The results are astounding. Reading to our children does not just calm down the littles before bedtime, but gives them a head start academically, fosters a relationship between parents and their kids and perhaps most importantly, promotes a life long love of books and reading.

“Reading aloud to children is the single most important activity for building knowledge required for eventual success in reading.” (National Academy of Education’s Commission on Reading, 1985).

By reading to our kids;

– We build better neural pathways (stimulating thought, creativity and imagination),
– We bring knowledge (books are full of new, diverse and unique experiences),
– We help develop language skills (simply by being exposed to more words),
– Promote early literacy skills (a child who is read to will understand the seemingly easy approach of left to right and top to bottom, retell a story, memorize lines, understand context),
– Offer a physical and emotional closeness through a shared experience (tell me your child doesn’t enjoy being cuddled and held while reading a story?),
– And encourage a joy of reading.  “Every time we read to a child, we’re sending a ‘pleasure’ message to the child’s brain. . . you could even call it a commercial, conditioning the child to associate books and print with pleasure.” (Trelease, 1982).

readingtokids

Experts recommend reading aloud to your child as soon as he or she is born, and continuing indefinitely go to these guys. If you don’t do this yet, fortunately, it’s never too late to start. While the investments are few: just your time and a library card, the benefits are many. Always remember that a good book is meant to be enjoyed; not just for the purpose of making good readers, but for enriching lives.

“The fire of literacy is created by the emotional sparks between a child, the book, and the person reading.”
~ Mem Fox

References:
Trelease, Jim. “The Read-Aloud Handbook.” Penguin, 1982.
Fox, Mem. “Reading Magic: Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever.” Harcourt, 2001.
Graphic. Read Aloud 15-Minutes www.readaloud.org.

More information:
10 Commandments for Reading Aloud
Read Aloud.org
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Reading Rockets
Bedtime Stories to Read Aloud

kristaguentherKrista is a wife, mother of 2 (+1 Vizsla), Certified Sleep Coach, closeted iron chef, marathoner, e-commerce aficionado and wannabe interior designer. When she’s not helping families go from tired to terrific, she loves reading aloud to her children (and only skips the occasional page).

 

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February 18, 2013

sooting routines, settle kids to sleep, bedtime routine

Bedtime Bliss

All kids need the comfort and security of a clear, predictable soothing routine. I truly believe that structure helps children feel safe and assured – when you’re little and so much seems difficult to understand and beyond your control, routines are a source of confidence and certainty. Soothing routine’s are a beautiful opportunity for parents and children to slow down, connect, share some special time, and unwind from the burdens of the day.

I admit bedtime routines with children is my favorite time of the day.  Yes, it’s a means to peaceful, sleeping babies (and peaceful, happy parents) but I love everything about the quiet and softness of our routines.  My toddler, who runs around non-stop and hardly has time for quiet moments during his day, will happily sit on my lap and lean his head back on my shoulder while we read books. My preschooler and I will share our sad and happy parts of the day and what we hope to dream about. Yes, it’s entertaining dialog with a 4 year old, but it’s a glimpse at what’s going on in her little mind. We’re setting a precedent of communication that I hope to maintain through our lifetime together.

A good soothing routine will start during infancy and evolve to carry a child through to school age. Even if you didn’t start that early, don’t be concerned. It’s never too late to begin.

When done right, soothing routines are times both parents and children look forward to. You and your partner may take turns, and each have your own style, but make sure you share a common approach on timing, coping with stall tactics and alleviating any fears or concerns from your child.

So what do you do? How do you do a soothing routine? Whether you’re a brand new parent or an experienced parent, stay tuned! Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding posts with elements which could comprise your child’s soothing routine and how to find a process that fits with the goals and the individuality of your family.

Lullabies: Making Beautiful Music Together – by Jodie Fera, BMus (ed.), B Ed, Music Together Kitchener-Waterloo

Basics of Sleep Hygiene – by Dr. Jennifer Castle, ND, The Urban Athlete

Yoga for Soothing – by Amanda Degrace, Little Lotus Yoga

Reading Magic – by Krista Guenther, Sleeperific Children’s Sleep Consulting

Massage for Soothing – by Amber Parkinson, RMT, Amber Parkinson Massage

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