Parents encourage reading by example
By The Schoolmarm • Aug 27th, 2008 • Category: educational
photo credit: Ruth LRead any good books lately?
The best example to your kids that reading is enjoyable and of value to you, is to see you reading a book, not just a magazine or the newspaper. But, you quickly reply, you have little time to read. I'm sure you are correct. May I present you with a challenge? Here tis'.
- Carve out a ten, fifteen or twenty minute period of time (according to the age of your kids) for a "quiet please, I'm reading" time. If not every night, at least twice a week.
- Now don't roll your eyes at me. I mean a time when everyone in the family observes a no noise zone in the house. Everyone must participate, either by gathering in one room with a book of his or her choice, or reading wherever is most comfortable. Even your pre-readers can spend a few minutes looking at pictures and respecting the special time.
- Set rules in advance ( Rule one: if it is not an emergency, then keep it to yourself until the silent reading time is over.)
- Set a timer.
Our world is so busy, so noise polluted, that we have to seek silence if we are to find it. It is good to acquaint our children with the serenity that comes with a quiet time with the written word.
Oh, they may object at first, but before long I bet they will look forward to the pause in the day's occupation (to quote an old term), and will enjoy the special family time. Who knows, they may even ask to extend the time.
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