SUMMARY: Family unity and literacy are at the core of Brainsarefun. I can't think of anything more important than parents and children spending quality time together in a truly enjoyable way - in an activity that heightens two of life's greatest pleasures: learning and thinking. Continue to read aloud to your children until they are sixteen-years-old.
Reclaim a fundamental activity that many parents shared with their children when their children were very young, often before they began attending school. Dedicate fifteen to thirty minutes, three to five times a week, to reading aloud to your children. Do this until your children turn 16, or until they leave home (whichever comes first). Get into bed as a family (husbands, wives, children, grandparents, pets...) and read, read, read. Adults do all the reading. Include this time in their contracts if you'd like. There's nothing wrong with them being able to earn while listening to you read. But start today. There are many appropriate books, a few of which I've listed at Books to Read Aloud to Your Children.
Keep in mind, don't set children up for additional failure by asking them to read to you and then correcting them. For the time being, you do all the reading. If you are not a strong reader yourself, borrow books on tape from the library.
Too many videos, video games and movies have hindered the development of listening and imagination. These pastimes do all the work, providing all the information; children are not required to form mental images and to exercise their imaginations - the machines eliminate effort, allowing the child to sit passively, with glazed eyes. You've seen it.
Listening allows the brain to go to work.
When the adult reads out loud the child is allowed to relax. He or she knows she's not going to be suddenly tested, put on the spot, and embarrassed for not having the right answer to something. Listening becomes associated with success.
Reading aloud sends a message, "If mom and dad think reading is important, it really must be."
Reading aloud allows children to be exposed to material far in advance of what they would be able to read on their own. They are exposed to a wide range of new vocabulary and ideas.
Once Mom and Dad have finished reading for the evening children may continue to listen by using books on tape available from the local library, or reading their own books to themselves.
All of this listening exposes children to a world of literature, vocabulary, and ideas. Since a great deal of what successful people learn they learn from reading, continue reading aloud to your children until they are 18 or have moved out of the house. Very few activities will bring your family more long-term gratification and reward.
Brainsarefun Reading brings parents and children together. That is the major point of Brainsarefun. A very important message is sent, "If Mom and Dad are willing to spend this time, it must really be important." For some reason, most parents report putting an end to reading aloud to their children at just about the age it becomes most important. Reading instruction ends far too soon. Parents abandon their children's reading to the vagaries of the classroom. Unfortunately, nearly half of our children do not read at grade level. Few end up reading two full years above grade level, which is where one needs to be for top performance and a solid crack at all the rewards our society has to offer.
Brainsarefun Reading is an opportunity for parents and children to unite around one of the most important academic skills there is. Showing your children that you really care enough to spend time with them around this critical skill, now that is immediate and massive success.
Never, ever, ever give up. And above all, Love!
Thank you.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: READING ALOUD © June 2006 by Rory Donaldson. All rights reserved. In order to help reverse the tide of academic failure and optimize success, individuals may copy brainsarefun solutions for non-commercial use at no charge. Contents may not be sold or repackaged in any manner without the written permission of Rory Donaldson. Since all material is copyrighted, please ensure that this entire copyright notice and contact information continues to be attached to each article you download. Mr. Donaldson appreciates the feedback. Additional solutions may be viewed and downloaded at no charge by logging on to brainsarefun.com. Titles are being updated, edited and added regularly. To view most recently added titles you may click here.
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