Read, write through day — with children

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Read, write through day — with children

Parents, are you too tired to read except for maybe a few minutes before dropping off to sleep?

Naturally, your children signed off way earlier and don’t really see you reading.

Of course you read children’s books to them, but it is not the same as you doing grown-up reading.

Make an effort to read and write in front of your children so they will know how important it is to you, and eventually they will realize how important it is to them too.

For example, when you are out of sugar, say that out loud and let them watch you write it on a grocery list.

When cooking, read the recipe aloud, step by step.

If following directions for putting something together, read them as you go.

Read menus to your children at restaurants.

Read the grocery store signs and the colors and sizes of shoes on the boxes.

You get the idea.

Write letters in the company of your children. When writing to grandma, let them enclose a picture and dictate a sentence or two.

When taking your children to the library, take the time to pick out a book for yourself along with the title yhey select for themselves.

Keep books, magazines and newspapers in a place where children see you reading them.

Besides reading to your children at bedtime, try a family reading time when all family members read their own book for say, 10 minutes.

Younger children can look at the pictures and make up their own story.

You could even write a family story together, with illustrations.

Each member could also choose a favorite children’s book and tell why they like it.

Make children aware that you enjoy playing word games such as Scrabble, crossword puzzles, and word searches.

Are you a member of a book club? Tell your child that you like to discuss books with others who have read the same book.

Show your enthusiasm for reading and how you cannot wait to see how a book will end!

Yes, reading should be an enjoyable and useful lifetime habit that you can pass on to your children.

If you model the fun of learning new things, your children will find their niche and read about what interests them too.

Debbie Clark is the Preschool Story Hour coordinator at the Maryville Public Library.