Benefits of reading aloud to your children

Summer time is best time to start reading aloud to your children. 

Now that Summer is officially here… 

 

Public schools would usually be finishing up by the end of this month. And many homeschoolers would be begining to take a much needed break. 

 

But this Summer feels a little different. The things we would usually be doing such as visiting museums, zoos, swimming lessons and baseball games have all been canceled. 

 

With many days already out for the 2020 school year, many parents are pondering how their kids can continue to learn throughout the summer. 

How do we fill up all those hours with good, educational and fun things to do with our kids? 

 

As a homeschool mom of three I have realized that the easiest way to incorporate learning into our schedule during the summer is through reading aloud. 

 

Reading aloud keeps their education going and avoids too much learning loss during the next couple of months. It may feel like  too easy of a task for your kids to be learning everyday just by reading to them. But throughout the years I have seen the difference reading aloud does for my kids. These are just a few things they are learning while we read together.   

 

Benefits of reading aloud to your children

 

Listening Skills

When I read to my children I often will allow  my youngest child to play quietly near us. He sits well for the first 20 minutes but because he is the youngest I rarely ask him questions about the book. More times than not he is the one who comes to me and tells me about what I was reading. Then to make sure I didn’t hear wrong I will follow his description of the book up with a question. Though the youngest, he is able to  listen to chapter books and ask questions just like his sibling at age five and older.

 

Comprehension and Story Sequence 

Have you ever asked a child right after he was done reading “What did you read?” And you get the answer “I don’t know.”

This can make a mama frustrated.

But when we join along with our kids in reading a book we have the opportunity to have meaningful discussions. We can ask things about characters, conflicts and how they overcame. This is less of a drill and more of a conversation.

Through these conversations we are helping our kids work through the story sequence. Learning about the beginning, middle and end of a story is going to help your child organize ideas and predict what will happen in more and more stories.

 

Vocabulary 

One of my favorite things about reading aloud to my kids is when they ask the question “What does (blank) mean?” They are for the first time discovering a new word! When they ask that question they are internalizing vocabulary that they will use in the future. It may be used again in conversation or when reading a different book. Their vocabulary is growing and I never had to provide a list of words or tests at the end of the week. The more words children become familiar with the easier it is to learn new information.

I am embarrassed to say every once in a while I do not know what the new word means. Yikes! I still desire for my kids to attain a good vocabulary.

I make this time an opportunity for my kids to learn dictionary usage. Sometimes we stop the book and look up the word in the dictionary right away or we have a spiral notebook handy to write down all the words we would like to define. This could be a new word, a place, plant or person, even an expression, that we are looking up.

 

Improves Writing

Did you know that reading aloud actually improves writing too?

When we read aloud our kids they are hearing the correct way to structure a sentence. There is no speed reading when you read aloud. Read slow and don’t skip any words! Savor every word so that you can almost see, taste, smell the descriptions in the book. Also your kids will start to internalize all the nouns, verbs, adjectives, and how they are organized in a sentence the correct way. It will help them get their thoughts onto paper in an understandable way.

 

Empathy

Empathy is a very powerful thing. It helps us to take the focus off of ourselves and to understand other people.

When your child is reading he can see conflicts that the characters are going through. He is put into their situation even if for a moment and cheers them on through their struggles.

Reading can show us that we all have struggles to overcome and heroes we want to be like. My favorite guide in making sure that my kids have a well-rounded home library about the world around them is from a book, Give Your Child the World by Jamie Martin.

 

Remember that reading is a gift. To the child and the parent. Schedule some time throughout the day this summer to sit with your children and share a story.

 

Reading aloud to your children is the best way to learn and spend time together. You will fall in love with it!

 

Related Posts:

Why I choose to Homeschool

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Also, if you are not able to get to the bookstore or library right now, which is definitely the case for many of us, try checking your local library’s website for available audio eBooks. This frees up your vocal cords while still enjoying the reading experience together. 

 

I enjoy finding book recommendations from other homeschool moms.  Readaloudrevival.com and Amazon reviews are my favorites. If you already know an author or Illustrator that you love, try to see what other books they have done.

Reading list for Elementary grades to keep your children active during Summer Break plus the benefits of reading aloud. Share on X

Listed is our favorite books with a Summer theme for Elementary grades.

1. The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden by Karina Yan Glaser
2. Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
3. The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary
4. The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy by Jeanne Birdsall
5. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown 

                                         

If you have a lot of time on your hands or your kids can get through a book within a couple of days, consider going through a series. Here are some great series that we have listened to. These Audiobooks are also great in the car for a Summer road trip. 

1. Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

2. Green Ember by S.D. Smith

3. Little House on The Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder

4. Paddington by Michael Bond

What are you favorite read aloud books?

 

Author of Post: Bethany Martinez is a wife, mom to three children, and has a deep passion for learning more of how to obediently raise her children as children of God. She is on her fifth year of homeschooling her children and hope to continue all the way through to their high school years. She has became a avid reader because of her role as a homeschool mom. Reading is now the most valuable and bonding technique the family uses in their homeschooling plans. 

To learn more about Bethany’s homeschooling reading plans and lists for specific themes, seasons, and grades feel free to leave questions in comments.