Good Books, Good Stories, Good Times

We were sitting in the movie theater watching previews before the Disney movie The Emperor’s New Groove. Suddenly, a shot appeared of travelers cresting a hill, one of them in a tall pointed hat. With a sharp intake of breath, our whole family excitedly exchanged glances as a rotating ring filled the screen. Simultaneously we realized that the J. R. R. Tolkien Lord of the Rings trilogy, which we were halfway through reading as a family, was about to become a movie. Years later, when all three movies were finished, we had varying opinions on how well the movies followed the storyline, but it had provided our family years of excitement as we read and watched together. I remember picking up our oldest from the theater, after the premier of the last movie, and finding her in tears. Thinking she was bitterly disappointed, I prepared to console her only to discover she had loved it and just couldn’t stop crying.

Reading aloud as a family started early with us. My parents visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder home and brought us a boxed set of the Little House books when our oldest was a toddler. We read a chapter to her each night as she fell asleep in her crib. When I transitioned to stay-at-home mom, a chapter became part of her nap time as well. As her siblings came along, we read through the series with each of them. All of us learned to love the bedtime snuggles and listening to the stories.

According to Reading Rockets, Launching Young Readers!, “There is no more important activity for preparing your child to succeed as a reader than reading aloud together.” Listening to the sound of language, hearing the inflection in your voice, and watching as you point to the words and pictures, helps them begin to put it all together and see how language and words on a page relate to the real world. There is even a window of time in their early development that makes a huge difference later on in what kind of reader they become. Zero to Three/A Window to the World: Early Language and Literacy Development says, “During the first 3 years of life, the brain undergoes its most dramatic development and children acquire the ability to think, speak, learn, and reason. When this early development is not nurtured, the brain’s architecture is affected and young children begin to fall behind.” If the whole family reads together, books become fun, reading becomes an adventure, and a pattern for lifelong learning is established.

There are plenty of opportunities for the adventure of early literacy to expand beyond the boundaries of home as well. Even babies can enjoy story time at the library. Afterwards, browse the shelves for books to check out and bring home. We designated the lowest bookshelf in our den as the place to stash our choices for the week. Book privileges included responsibility: clean hands, careful handling, and all books had to go back on the shelf when finished-except at bedtime when each could choose three to look at while falling asleep.

Try reading aloud on long car trips. We often read through books in a series. Sherlock Holmes, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the Mark Twain novels all provided hours of enjoyment. Or, choose a book about your destination before you go on vacation and read it on the way. A good book is a conversation starter and can initiate lively family discussions so that car time becomes family time as everyone interacts with each other, rather than each disappearing into his/her own screen.

Read on camping trips. Outside in the beauty of nature where it’s quiet and free from the noise of the city, you can read by the campfire, under the stars, after a picnic lunch, overlooking a scenic view, or on stream bank on a hike. Pick a variety of books to interest everyone and as the kids begin to read, let them have a turn.

When our kids were ranging in age from eight to thirteen, we took a trip to Washington, D. C. On that long car trip, besides playing the “A, B, C” game and checking off car tags on a list of states, we read books aloud and listened to another favorite of ours-Adventures In Odyssey, an audio tape series. Granted, this was before the advent of smartphones and tablets, and yes, it was challenging to keep everyone occupied, but the memories we have as a family are priceless.

Fostering their imaginations by letting them form the images in their brains instead of sitting in front of a screen, deepened our kids’ relationships with us and with each other. We had more in common because we had read many of the same books and we had much to talk about. I remember one time when the kids were teenagers, we were sitting in a local restaurant enjoying our meal. A man came over to our table and said, “I hate to interrupt, but my wife and I were just sitting over there watching your family. It’s so unusual to see teenagers having fun and talking animatedly with each other and their parents. We just  wanted to tell you how great it was.” Sure, we had our issues and there were other moments that weren’t so pretty, but spending time together outside of technology strengthened the  bonds we shared, and for us reading played a big part in that.

But what about kiddos that are, like two of ours were, in perpetual motion? How do you even begin to get them to settle down and listen? Be creative. Building a cardboard fort, stringing up a blanket to make an indoor tent, or just cuddling up in a refrigerator box to read with a flashlight is fun. Read to them while they play on the floor, in the back yard, or draw a picture. Read as they finish their veggies at mealtime, then talk about the story during dessert. Pick a good book and make the meal fit the theme. Go to the park or zoo and then read a story about it. The possibilities are endless if you use your imagination.

And don’t forget to let them catch you reading. Make it natural to have conversations about books. Reading is a tool for navigating the world and also a gateway to a richer fuller life. It may be challenging to get them on board, but consistency and patience will help. With creativity and persistence, being careful not to force it, encouraging your children to love reading will be rewarding now and in the future. So start small, make it fun, and sit back and watch the magic happen.

www.readingrockets.org Reading With Your Child

www. zerotothree.org A Window to the World: Early Language and Literacy Development 4/12/11