Let’s start at the beginning, shall we? Pre-K or even preschool for that matter is one of the best times in a little one’s learning life. They are eager to “do school” (most of the time). Their minds are like little sponges, soaking in any and all information they can take in, and overall they have a grand love of figuring things out for themselves. With three and four year olds, I think it’s SO important to remember that they are THREE AND FOUR year olds. They don’t need a big boxed curriculum, and you don’t need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on finding it either. They don’t need fancy workbooks.
Let me repeat that… They don’t need workbooks.
They need YOU and a big pile of books to read together. My favorite and most used “curriculum” for Pre-K is truthfully my library card, my local used bookstore, Amazon Prime, and audio books in the car in between errands, going to the gym, and dropping off kids at jiu jitsu practice.
If I have learned anything about how children learn over my past 5 years as a home educator and the 6 years before that as a public school educator, it’s that 1. children need books. And 2. they need to hear stories. Sometimes they need to hear the same story over and over and over again; to the point of nearly driving you to the brink of insanity. If asked, I could retell Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault, and There’s an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer, verbatim, without ever looking at the books. Those were and still are some of my kids’ favorite books. Children thrive on familiarity, and stories–especially well-loved ones–can provide just that.
Read Books Aloud to your kids, period.
Think back to when your kids were little. Or maybe you’re still in the thick of “little kids”. If anything, I’m sure you can relate to the love of hearing a bedtime story when you were young. Ever wonder why your little one begs for just one more book after hearing at least three or why they consistently request Green Eggs and Ham on a nightly basis? Books are comforting. Children feel safe when they’re being read to. They can get lost in the story and imagine themselves within the tale. Now, for those of you with older kids…the ones that actually know how to read on their own…
Do you still read aloud to them?
Be honest…
Why or why not?
I’m here to tell you a BIG SECRET.
Those big kids want to (and need to) hear stories too. Yes, even the teenagers. #truth
Listening to the written word read aloud is one of the best ways to connect with your kids. You’ll have something to discuss. They’ll have a moment away from their devices of rest and relaxation. It’s just you and them, and I’m here to tell you mama (or dad), those big kids need bedtime stories too. Start making it a habit, and I guarantee the second you stop doing it, they’ll ask for it again. And yes, even picture books at the age of 15 can be an amazing retreat. If you can’t quite imagine sitting and reading a picture book to your teen, find a chapter book that you loved as a child and introduce it to him. They won’t ever forget reading it with you. I promise.
Here’s another secret…
Say yes.
Don’t turn down your child’s request to read. Period. If it’s a time that a story absolutely cannot happen immediately, (for example if you’re on your way out the door with your crew of kiddos to get to a doctor’s appointment on time), make a point to stop, explain why the story cannot happen at that very moment and PROMISE a time in the near future when you can read together. Better yet, turn on that audio book in the car on the way! Do not go back on those reading promises. Or eventually, they’ll stop asking.
If they ask as you’re mindlessly sitting on your phone or in front of the television, pick up that book and put your phone down. Make reading together the norm and soon you’ll be surprised at how naturally reading aloud with your kids just happens. Pack a book or two in your bag or purse next time you have to take everyone to an appointment, to the park, or to a sports practice. In the waiting room, on a park bench, or in the warmth of your own car while another child runs up and down and field with a soccer ball, instead of pulling out your phone to catch up on Facebook or Instagram, pull out a book. Teach them that THIS is the norm! Books are a treasure and those kids of yours need to know that.
Skip the Reading Log
It’s tons of fun to incorporate a fun craft or unit study with books. In fact, every once in a while it can be a terrific thing. Don’t feel that you MUST extend your stories every single time. Sometimes it’s perfectly fine to just read. Even when your child is older and you feel the need to have a “reading log” or “reading journal” for accountability, you truly don’t have to do that. Let them enjoy books and enjoy the art of reading. Do you remember in school when a teacher would assign a book, nightly reading minutes, a reading log, a reader’s response journal? Because for a LONG time, I was that teacher. That’s not enjoyable. And let’s be honest, that teacher is not even checking or reading over every single thing a child turns in about a book. Because as much as a child doesn’t want to do all that busy work, a teacher (homeschool parent or teacher alike) certainly doesn’t want to spend the time reading said busy work.
I have a new motto, here and now…
MAKE READING FUN…AGAIN!
Because you know what?….It IS fun! Reading is one of the best forms of entertainment we have out there. So let those children enjoy books and stories again. Let them choose the “fluff” books from the library, but also make sure to find wonderful, literature “rich” books. Give them titles that will make them fall in love with the simple pleasure of reading, and for the love, read to your children!
Leave a Reply