Paige Bessick - The Interactive Teacher

Ideas and resources to make learning interactive, engaging and fun.

4 Important Reasons Why You Should Read With Your Children

Reading to your children is one of the best things you can do to prepare them for school.  My new project, The Interactive Parenti, is here to help you learn more about reading to your kids.  Keep reading to find out why it is so important!

why you should read to your kids

Interactive Read Alouds are one of my favorite things to do in my classroom (if you’re a teacher, you can find out more HERE and HERE).  As a teacher, I know the importance of reading aloud to my students.

Reading aloud to my sons is one of our favorite things to do at home.  As a teacher, I also know the importance of reading aloud to my own kids.  Not all parents (or family members) are teachers though and I want to support everyone in understanding why, how and what to read to their children.

Today, I’m here to give you 4 specific reasons why you should read with your children every day.  

**This post contains affiliate links for Amazon. By purchasing an item on the Amazon site using these links, I will receive a small commission on your purchase.  This helps me to continue writing this blog and providing you with these tips and ideas.  Thank you! 
 

Resources to Support Family Read Alouds

This summer I did some research for myself as a teacher by reading these two books.  Reading Magic by Mem Fox and The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease.  If you’ve read any of my recent posts, I’ve mentioned them a lot.  I’m not going to bore you with all the details, but they were fabulous, informative reads.  As a parent, I would definitely recommend Reading Magic!     
              
While reading them though, I took so many notes on WHY it is so important to read to your children every day and I questioned whether parents really knew the importance.  I know they parents know it’s good to read to their children, but do they understand just how important it is?  That’s my mission.  To tell you, parents and family members of children, how very important it is.   
 
So let’s cut to the chase, here are my top 4 reasons WHY you should read to your children.  

1. It’s a Time to Bond with Your Children

Picture this… you’re snuggled up in bed reading a child a bedtime story.  Your son, daughter, grandchildren, niece, nephew, etc. have their head resting on your shoulder as you read them a story.  Can you envision it?  Maybe it’s something you do every day, maybe it’s something you would like to do more often.  
 
When you read with a child, you are creating a bond that no one else has.  You are making memories by reading to them at any age.  The books that you share are so special, but you are also giving this child a sense of security and love.  You may not realize it but the touch of your hand and body shows them that they are safe with you and that they are loved.  Every child needs to feel safe and loved.  Help them feel that.  Read to them!

2. You Show Your Children They are Important

You are also showing your children that they matter to you.  While we are all so busy with our phones, computers, jobs, chores, the list goes on and on, children know our lives are hectic.  But when we take the time to snuggle up with our children and give them our undivided attention, we are showing them that they are important.
 
Here’s a picture from my good friend Sara, of her husband, Dan, and two oldest children,
Cole and Taylor.  
Want your children to feel important?  Read to them!

3. You’re Showing Them Reading Can Be Enjoyed

Again, you may not realize it, but by doing this little read aloud, you are instilling in them the pleasure of reading.  Not only are they enjoying this reading time with you, you are showing them that reading is fun, exciting and something they like to do.
 
So many kids in school have a hard time learning to read.  Believe me, I know, I’m a first grade teacher.  First grade is where my students come to learn how to read.  When reading is hard, it really frustrates kids.  If this is the only reading experience they have, they will most likely never enjoy reading.  If they don’t enjoy it, they won’t do it.  If they won’t do it, then they won’t get better.  It’s a spiral, and I don’t want to scare you, but this is the truth.  
 
To avoid this, you have to read to your kids from day one and help them enjoy it.  Show them that it can be fun and exciting.  That way, if reading is hard for them when they are learning how, they know that it can be enjoyed and they are more likely to push through and continue to try.  Want them to enjoy reading?  Read to them!      

4. It Prepares Them for School Success

Now, believe me, the other reasons are so important and some of my favorites, but this one might just take the cake!  By reading aloud to your child, you are preparing them to learn how to read which will then give them success in school.  I knew reading to my own kids was important, but I never really knew HOW important it was until I read the two books I mentioned above.  School success is so important!  Read to them!

Now if those are not reasons enough for reading to your child, I’m not sure anything will convince you.  But I’m here to do everything I can to help you, parents and family members, understand just how important it is to read to your child.  I will be back soon to share more about how reading aloud to your child can prepare them for school success.

Throughout this blog post, I mention parents a lot.  I also try to input family as much as possible too.  I want anyone reading this post that has a child in their life to understand the importance of reading aloud to them.  Whether it’s your son or daughter, grandchild, niece, nephew, or neighbor, you can change a life by reading to them.

If you know anyone with a child who you think would find interest in this, please click on one of the social media sites on the left of this page, at the bottom of the post or pin this image.

I’m here to support all adults with children in their lives and the more people I reach, the better off our children will be.  This is a project for all of us and I hope I can gain your support in this mission.

I really appreciate it when you pin and share for others to see.

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