As life has gotten busier for myself and my family, I’ve fallen away from reading in any traditional form and as my kids are gearing up for National Reading Month, I find myself disappointed that I’m not reading more stories.
Re-fostering my enjoyment of writing has been a journey for my soul. While I’ve always had an easy time with reading comprehension, communication and getting my words out have never been my strongest trait. As an adult, I’ve felt a desperate need for change. Being in a relationship and having kids makes basic communication a must. The aspect of having a creative outlet has been an unexpected benefit. Another benefit, reading more. Which means my kids see me reading and writing more. Which is awesome. Though again, it’s been a journey.
Basically, everyone from the American Academy of Pediatrics to the National Center for Education agrees: kids benefit from their parents reading to them out loud. The NCE noted that kids that were read to three to four times a week scored 42% better on tests across the board, even math tests. Yet, college burnt me out on reading to the point that it is a chore. While I worked in a daycare, it was demonstrated to us time and time again how important reading was, especially in a low-income area. When the AAP reports that 66% of kids aren’t proficient in reading by third grade and that 33% of incoming kindergarteners don’t have the skills to learn how to read, it’s a problem.
If reading helps, that is motivation enough for me.
From an entertainment standpoint, exercising the brain with reading is obviously the more beneficial choice over screen time. I find with screen time, my kids become addicted little monsters, and I can’t stand it. With the newest long term study on screens and kids, it’s for the best, anyway. We have daily homework here (already…) and my kids have imaginative play every day. I could incorporate more books anytime. They have books at bedtime, but it could always be more. Basically, I don’t want to shrink any cortex prematurely, so until they need emails, we won’t use tablets.
I stay involved with the school and luckily the kids have great teachers. I can say without a doubt both of my school aged kids are being nurtured and absolutely enjoy school. They tell me it is hard work, but they happily obliged. Teachers make an impact, but can not pick up the slack of every parent and future teacher. I had a teacher that was passionate about her students loving to learn. If I had her as a teacher my entire learning experience, I would have never fallen away from it. She made every aspect so individualized and really tried to make it enjoyable. We had special reading areas and a lot of freedom. Her way of educating was a real gift. When I’m trying to motivate myself to do things that are out of my comfort zone or form better habits, I try to emulate someone admirable with that trait. Let me re-learn loving to read like Mrs. Tenney. She could hold a class of 30 silently engaged like no one I have ever seen. I can do that with three, right?
Here’s to reaching back to the interested third grader, getting a library card and raising kids who love to read, not just because they have to, but because they enjoy it.
How do you get or keep your kids interested in reading?
