In today's post, regular contributor Denise Neary talks about how lovely it is to read to your kids. Take the idea and run with it... how 'bout a Bedtime Book Club at your house?
I’ve read all sorts of persuasive studies about how important it is for children to have books and reading be part of their young lives. I think a neglected part of the equation is how wonderful it is for parents to be able to read aloud. Reading to your children is so much fun! I loved reading to my kids at bedtime. The kids were typically fresh out of their baths, looking adorable, their little cheeks pressed close, and completely in my thrall. What’s not to like about that?
It was our nighttime ritual that each parent read two books to each of our two children---sometimes together, more often separately. Our kids gamed us on the two book rule. It's an easy rule to apply with board books, but tougher as the kids get older (and smarter----my kids would intentionally select the longest book in their bookcase). Note to other parents considering a similar family tradition----introduce a page limit, or a less rigid rule, early! I had some of my best naps ever after conking out reading to my children on their toddler beds. My husband and I were always dragging a sleeping spouse out of the bed, as our wide-awake children happily assisted.
Our family read aloud the wonderful TALES OF A FOURTH GRADE NOTHING by Judy Blume, and had a group crush on the character Fudge. We took the kids to see a play based on the book. The kids loved the play, but pointed out that the characters in the play didn’t have all of the voices quite right. In other words, the professional actors didn’t use exactly the same voices that my husband and I used. Not a great victory for professional theatre, but a warm moment for me and my husband.
Judy Blume’s Fudge books, J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, and the Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart series were some of our family’s best read-aloud memories. What are your family’s favorites?
-- Denise Neary, Regular Contributor
