Simple Tips for the Everyday Heroes
(The secrets of a lazy parent revealed.)
Read aloud at least once a day to your children or have your older child read daily to someone else or read independently. I am homeschooling my children so they have unlimited amount of time for me to read books with them during the day but at nap and bedtime they need to go to sleep. However, I do allow them to read until they fall asleep and I do this at nap and quiet time as well.* If you are a working parent then the traditional model of reading before dinner or bedtime may be a better option.
Have the older kids or grandparents read to your children. This creates and fosters of love of reading and creates memories.
Encourage your child to read with friends when they come over to visit or prompt them to take a break to read a book in between activities.
After reading a book ask at least one question to check your child's ability to understand the story. This can be based on one question about the book or the chapter. For example, "Why is this book/chapter called.....?" I wonder why ........ happened? This book is special because....? Why are the pictures/illustrations/photographs important?"
Have books around the house. You can pick up used books at flea markets, garage sales, community centers, schools, or churches. Sometimes you can find book swaps or swap with your friends. If they have children who have outgrown books you can see if they want to give them to you, buy at a reduced price, or swap. You can do an internet search to find book give-a-ways. This is great because you can find cheap books at the library. The library sells books they no longer need. You can purchase books, coloring books, and workbooks at the dollar store. You can also find christian resources at the dollar store as well. Stores like 5 and below or Walmart usually has books at affordable rates.
You can search YouTube to find favorite books read aloud that you can play for your children for anytime of the day. I like Shel Steversein, "The Giving Tree." You can find many of your favorite childhood classics.
You can download audio books for kids to help them find books that are interested in reading from audiobooks, library, and etc.
The Youversion Bible app has reading plans for kids too. That has an audio component to it and will read it aloud to them.
Put limits on the amount of technology kids watch experts recommend no more than 2.5 hours, this fosters boredom and this is a good thing. Boredom creates space for creativity and when you place books and other fun resources and materials around your home, children will gravitate to them. Then, suddenly books become magically because it allows them children to escape inside of a book.*
Take your child to the library at twice a month. The library has so many activities planned for each month. You can find events like game night, read alouds, poetry nights, coding, family yoga, holiday events, and etc. When you finished leave time to wander the library to find interesting reading material. You can also find workshops for your entire family. You can find out about the events by visiting your local library's website. They have the calendar of events posted on their website, around the library, and in a take home brochure. What I like to do is grab the brochure and use sticky notes or a highlighter or a pen to check the ones I am interested in attending. If you use the website you can usually add the events to your online calendar with a click of a button. The library also have books that you can read online on their website if you don't like the idea of borrowing books. You can also ask the Liberians for help they love to help. They often get bored and want to be of assistance so don't be shy ask away. There are many fun and interesting things to do throughout the week.
Take your child to church there are lots of people who would love to teach your child how to read. Sunday school is a great place for kids to learn how to read. They are taught a biblical lesson and as they are learning they are also learning how to read as well.
Let your children read on the go. Leave a stack of their favorite books in the car and have them have a backpack or a tote bag full of books. They can read on a tablet or read actual books. They can read when they travel, go to the beach, outside relaxing, or at the pool.
Teenagers can participate in Teen Nights in the community such as at church or at the library. Encouraging them to participate in after school activities will help them develop a love of reading.
You can also watch a movie with older kids that is based on a book and have them compare and contrast the movie with the book.
Start a book club for kids. Have a book club in person or online for the kids in your family or neighborhood.
These are some of the lazy parenting strategies I use as a parent and as an educator. Whenever I catch my children reading without being prompted it melts my heart. It makes me happy to see my children reading and at 3 and I years old my children already love to read independently and with a parent or friend.
Citation
* Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross.
Wix pic
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