10 Benefits of Reading Aloud to Your Child (older children included)
When your child was a toddler, you read board books.
When your child was a preschooler, you read picture books.
When your child was 5, he went to school. Then, his teacher read aloud to him. You might have even had him read homework called “fluency passages.”
Now, I know some of you out there are what I call “reader families.” Every person in the family has a book they are reading! It is the family fun thing to do.
THIS IS NOT MOST FAMILIES.
Most families somehow seem to stop reading aloud
once the child starts school.
That’s what the teacher does, right?
Well, it’s true that as a teacher one of my favorite things to do was to read aloud to the students. Did I read aloud from a list of books given to me? No. I could essentially choose any book I wanted. (Think about that if you have any reservation about your child’s current teacher or what might be read aloud in class.)
So, why do I read to my own children, even though they are now in 7th, 3rd, and 1st grades?
There are SO MANY benefits. I’ll go through just a few (in no particular order).
Time together—When I read aloud and the children sit quietly and draw or work on a craft, it is time that we have together to share an experience we can talk about.
Vocabulary—When I read a word or even a phrase and I’m sure they likely haven’t heard it, I ask them what they think that means. They safely can say what they think without any fear of being made fun of. I might even ask them a few more times or reread that section of the passage before telling them what it does mean. My children have built their vocabulary over the years from read alouds—not from writing definitions or doing vocabulary worksheets.
Building comprehension—Through the asking of questions and making predictions on what will happen next (and discussing vocabulary), your child is building an understanding of what is read. When you read different genres (novels AND some nonfiction), your child is learning how to understand reading those various types of material.
Making emotional connections—When characters in the story face trials, fears, and triumphs reading is a way to put oneself in the shoes of that character. We can discuss how they would feel if it had happened to them or what they would choose to do. Reading aloud provides us opportunities to talk about feelings and actions with one another.
It fuels imagination-This is a point my 13 year old shared with me when I was writing this post. He said that when you have your imagination boosted, it helps in being creative and designing things. In addition, I would say the listening part is wonderful practice in making mental images, like a movie playing inside the mind. When we have watched a movie based on a book we read, it is an opportunity to contrast that movie with the mental image we already had formed.
Learning lessons/morals-Many novels will have a lesson learned somewhere in the book. Reading about how a character handled a situation can allow a child to reflect on what was the right thing to do. You help shape your child’s worldview by the books you choose to read and the lessons therein. Likewise, your child’s worldview is also shaped by the books he/she reads and the books the teacher may be reading aloud.
Motivation to read-My children have begged me to keep reading sometimes when I’m doing my read aloud and it is time to stop. That comes with choosing a good book and reading at a “good time,” where distractions are few and children have gotten their wiggles out. When I read aloud, my children are more likely to read. In fact, my second child is a beginning reader when it comes to chapter books. I get him started on a chapter book by reading the first several pages. I just stop at an interesting part of the book, and hand it over to him so that he’s “hooked.”
Honing listening skills-This goes hand-in-hand with the making mental images and imagination. A child must focus and listen carefully to understand what is going on in the story. Sometimes, I reread a page so that we are sure we understand.
Teach history or science-Throughout elementary school, my children learned history and science primarily through read-alouds. They learned vocabulary specific to these subjects as well as particular concepts. You don’t even have to read a nonfiction book. One particular genre is historic fiction, when the character is make-believe, but the historic events in the book are true. Number the Stars is an example of this type of book. It helps make the events a little more real and able for the children to connect.
Model fluent reading- What does it sound like to appropriately pause at a period? How does it sound to NOT read like a robot? You can show your child what it means to read with feeling. You can speed up at an exciting part. You can slow down at other parts. I recall one video of my toddler “reading” a book. She wasn’t reading actually, but mumbling phrases as she turned the book. It SOUNDED like she was reading, but in another language. She had heard the way my voice changed as I read over and over. A child that has listened to read alouds will be able to imitate fluent reading and be able to change their voice with the text.
What benefits have you enjoyed from reading aloud to your child?
My mom might not have read chapter books aloud to us past a certain age (we did grow up going to public school, and that often happens). However, it was a habit that whenever she found something interesting she would read it aloud to the whole family. Take note, our family was together quite a bit. If we were in the car together in all in the family room together, that was an opportunity for the “thing” to be read aloud.
My dad would read aloud The Bible to us when we had a family devotional. Do you want to really make a change in your household? Try that. It is something from the past that many more Americans used to do. You’ll find all sorts of interesting things there! Don’t forget, you can find less intimidating and easier versions to read quite easily these days. Bible Gateway online is an easy place to start looking at versions you like.
My sister will tell you that she has special times with her son reading aloud after her husband goes to bed early for his third shift job. She cherishes those times they have together and knows that she is creating lifelong memories. Whenever he sees one of those books years later, he will think of those times they had together. I could go on and on. Are you convinced yet that you need to read aloud to your child?
You get to choose the book! When your child’s teacher reads aloud, she can pretty much pick anything—not just from the school library, but from her classroom library as well. Keep that in mind as you get to know your child’s teacher and ask questions right at the start of the school year. You have that right to ask and to know. You are the parent.
Take heart. Make a difference.
You are your child’s most influential teacher.
Email Rebecca@TheParentTeacherBridge.com and I will send you a Read Aloud Handy Helper!