HOMESCHOOLING BEGINS WITH HOME
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| As I was prayerfully preparing to write this series of articles on reading to children, I began one of our routine afternoons by reading legends from the Iroquois Indians. I was having such fun changing my voice to that of turtles, bears, chipmunks, and eels. | on the laps of their parents. ~ Emilie Buchwald ~ |
My youngest son (age 8 at the time) stopped his playing on the floor, picked up a couch pillow, wedged it between my rocker arm and me, and snuggled into my lap.
He looked at the pictures and laughed hysterically as I sang the song of the rabbit (sounded kinda like Alvin’s chipmunks on steroids).
“Do it again, Mommy,” he begged.
So of course I did. Everyone joined in the chanting of rabbit’s song, and we all laughed.
Then my little fellow turned his head toward my face, planted a big kiss on my cheek, and said, “You are such a great girl.”
Oh, I laughed! And, of course, hugged him and kissed him too.
HELP! |
Reading to children of various ages does present some challenges, doesn’t it?
In 2000, when my five children ranged in age from newborn to 10, the reading times didn’t always run so smoothly. There were diapers to change, babies to nurse, and children to train.
As the children matured out of diapers and to elementary age, the challenges changed. Now the older ones could sit and listen to more advanced stories but the toddlers found non-picture books boring because they simply couldn’t understand what was going on.
Often overwhelmed but not willing to give up during each of these seasons with their various challenges, I learned to deal with each season uniquely.
I view family reading time as a
child-training and relationship-building time
first and foremost.
Here are few things I found helpful while reading to children of various ages:
- Babies:
- Read when babies are napping (that’s an obvious one!).
- Keep your lively baby in a bouncer seat that your children or you can rock while you read.
- Toddlers:
During family reading time, there are many opportunities to train the child rather than view his questions and squirming as interruptions.
In preparing for the daily reading time, I first take the time to do something with my youngest child—sometimes I even read to him at his level until he's satisfied or the other children and I listen to his stories (we all like to tell stories in our house) before we sit down for an hour or two of reading.
Then I remind him that we'll be reading soon and he needs to get a project he's chosen earlier in the week to work on quietly during that time.
- Provide quiet, non-messy toys handy for toddlers—cloth books, ColorWonder markers and paper, playdough—that they can use only during family reading times. It gives them something to anticipate each day.
- Hold them on your lap while reading more advanced stories to older children. Often they will fall asleep there. What a precious time!
- Early elementary:
- Read a picture-book story to the youngest child first, before beginning reading more advanced books out loud to everyone.
- Set up a routine so that your child knows what to expect each afternoon. He will begin to play with his toys quietly over time.
- Allow her to play with building toys, such as train sets, Lincoln logs, gears.
- Read while children work on projects, such as making maps.
- Provide your children with projects they select. For an example, click here.
As you establish the routine of family reading, you will find your children look forward to it as much as you do. We have been reading together since 1992, and I know this time will continue long into the future.
| Keep your children interested through lots of play-acting together, which creates wonderful memories and bonds hearts. Remember to ask a lot of questions as you read. What would you do, my dear? How do you think this character will respond? Is he acting within Godly principles? What should happen here if the author is writing from a Biblical worldview? Your children’s responses will give you a glimpse into their hearts, and you can share yours with them. Your relationships build, and love grows. | appeals not only to the child in the adult, but to the adult in the child. ~ Anonymous ~ |
Read together routinely.
Five additional articles to encourage you:
- Setting up “reading to children” routines
- Reading to elementary and junior high school children
- Identifying quality books for your season
- Validating a young child
- Dialoguing with an older child
and Your Body, the Church.
May she press on in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit
as You lift the burdens often associated with homeschooling
and increase joy in the hearts and lives
of each member of this family.
~Matthew 11:30
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