Readers are leaders!

[Debbie6221]

Hi, I am just curious how much reading is going on out there with families. I feel like we don't read to our kids enough and I always feel so guilty about it. I have a teaching degree so I absolutely understand the importance of it but sometimes it's just not happening around here like it should be. Anyone else feel like me? Your honesty would be appreciated!!!!!

 

[dfarner]

Teacher here...we TRY to read to our kids 20-30 mins a day. Honestly, it doesn't always happen. Sometimes it's just a quick story before bed. Sometimes my one year old doesn't even sit through a whole story, so with her we just read short board books. DD5 loves reading, so we're lucky in that respect, but if we go through a stretch of days where we haven't read a lot I feel bad about it too. Kind of like exercise

 

[Stimpy]

We are big on reading in our house. Dh & I read to each child before bedtime and sometimes several times during the day. We also read alot ourselves.

My DS is a huge reader! It is unbelievable what this kid reads and how well. His teacher told us that she has never seen a child read at his level in her class before. He reads like an adult and is 7. We bought him the whole set of the Magic Treehouse books and he read 8 of them within 2 hours.

I guess that doesn't help you much though

DS is a big reader because he really enjoys it. He plays soccer & little league but he stinks at both and part of that is because we slacked on practicing with him. So I feel guilty about that. I kind of think that is part of parenthood, there is always something to feel a little guilty about even if you shouldn't.

 

[Doc CW]

Me or my dad will read a story to my baby-sister each night before she goes to bed.

 

[dfarner]

Me or my dad will read a story to my baby-sister each night before she goes to bed.

This post makes me so happy

 

[ljhmom]

When school is out my DS 6 & 7 read at least 30 minutes a day, they also take turns reading bedtime stories to 3yr old brother. Their favorite books are Magic Treehouse or Hardy Boys.

 

[K and K's Mommy]

We read every night before bed. Bedtime can take quite awhile because we read separately. Sometimes I think we should read to all three together, but they are at such different levels. I also think one-on-one time is important. My kids read by themselves in the car (or at least look at pictures.)

 

[bethifoody]

Hi.

I've got 3 ds - my oldest is 14, and was reading by age 3. My middle guy is now 8 & reading is a struggle, so what we try to do w/ him is get him to read to us to build his skills - but I know that by reading to him, we help him too. We have a very busy household, so I know I don't do enough reading, but I do try. DH is in law school, but when he's home he makes the time to sit w/ them. While he may not sit & read stories to them, they do sit & play games, where he'll make Sam (the middle guy) read as much as he can. My baby (Peter), who's 5, gets read to by us and Sam - who will sometimes ask if he can read to Peter in lieu of doing his own independent reading. As long as they're actually reading, we're ok with it!

Beth in MI,
CR 8/18-23

 

[ilovejack02]

DS is almost 5 and reading quite a bit by himself. I do read to him alot, but not every night. I tend to do it more during the day and now that he is reading fairly well he is reading to me some. He sits next to bath tub and reads to me while I take a bath, it is soo neat to see him reading so well. Its crazy he has been out of school since mid May and I know he was reading some when he got out, but his reading seems to be getting better every week. I know we should get a better routine down and i do feel guilty about it.

 

[JVL1018]

When the kids were littler, we read books every day and every night before bed.
Now DD reads before bed on her own, and I *try* to read to DS, but that boy likes the most BORING books ever, it drives me crazy to read them. Star Wars, Transformers ::snoooze::.
I still do, but I probably average 3 nights a week. Sometimes DD reads to him as well. I'm trying to teach him to read, I can't believe he still can't read.

I, myself, read every single day whenever i have a free minute. I have books everywhere in the house, there is nothing I love more than reading.

 

[tmarquez]

I try to read with DD(4) a little each day, but sometimes there's not time. Books have always been one of her favorite "toys".

Lately I have had to limit her reading because she gets VERY frustrated with herself if she can't read something. She can read very simple books by herself, but she tries to read things that she's just not ready for yet and it turns into a crying episode.

I wish I could help her, but teaching is just something I'm not good at.

 

[Stimpy]

When the kids were littler, we read books every day and every night before bed.
Now DD reads before bed on her own, and I *try* to read to DS, but that boy likes the most BORING books ever, it drives me crazy to read them. Star Wars, Transformers ::snoooze::.

My DS is the same way. He reads the Star Wars all the novels & series. Fortunately, DH is a SW fan himself so he gets DS at bedtime & I get DD usually. He just loves SW and reads everything there is to read about it. Drives me bonkers! Especially when I hear "Mommy, did you know so-and-so is from the planet whatchamacallit and carries these weapons, is the long lost cousin of theotherguy......." Ummmm No!

 

[tripletots]

My kids read at least an hour daily over the summer and they do math (they have Sat and Sun off). When friends come over to play, they haven't even picked up a book yet, they say it's their vacation and they don't have to. Mine want to read, they'd rather not do math, but they do.

 

[jmom]

I read to DS 6 and DD 4 daily. DS reads his (mostly school books) to me or his Dad every day...but if busy with other activities this doen't happen. To me, as a Mum and primary school teacher it's the reading experience that's vital...a warm, holistic, engaging experience which (hopefully) instills a love of reading (for both child and parent !! lol!!) Whilst regular reading practice is essential for the key skills, a positive reading experience is critical if we want to grow life-long readers... but sometimes this is so difficult to do!

 

[briarberry]

Another teacher here - what a good thread! I am very lucky that my DD10 is an avid reader. I read to her a lot when she was little and I am also a big reader. She always has to have a book to read. She is reading the Warriors series right now by Erin Hunter, it's about cats. Thank goodness the library has most of the books, it can get expensive when you have to buy them! We will be at the bookstore at midnight this Friday to get the last Harry Potter book! I have read all of them to her, so I have become a HP fan too. She still wants me to read this one out loud to her, it's just something we have always done even though she can easily read it herself. I think she has read all the HP books at least twice through. My DD was a thumb sucker for a very long time and I never will forget walking into the livingroom and seeing her sprawled out on the couch sucking her thumb and reading this huge HP book. She was about 7 at the time, it was just bizarre. She eventually gave up the thumb but still loves to read (thank goodness)!

 

[luvmy2sams]

DD8 is a big bookworm, just like her mama. She reads on her own each day. There have been times when I think she's in her room playing, and I'll find her curled on the couch with her latest find.

I read to DS3 (almost 4) daily. He loves pulling out his favorites, and we've usually got some down time while waiting for DD to finish her activity of the moment.

DH and I swap off with the kids at bedtime, and a big part of our ritual is reading a few stories while they're getting cozy in bed. DD and I are reading Peter and the Shadow Thieves right now, so DH has been stuck reading the latest Ninja Turtle book with DS.

Some of my favorite memories involve books read to me by my grandpa. I hope that one day my kiddos will be able to remember those quiet evening hours spent with mom and dad and their favorite books.

 

[Debbie6221]

Thanks for sharing! We are increasing the reading on our end. This thread is inspiring me to do more!

 

[WildGrits]

WOOHOO!!!!

I'm the worst parent on the board.

Or the most honest.

I never read to my kids. They are 9 and 11 and are very capable of reading on their own.

We have always had tons of books in the house and if ever one brought a book to me, I would always read it. I has been many years since that has happened.

My oldest HATES to read and is in the top 5 in her school grade wise.

My youngest loves to read and reads at a grade level above her grade. She stinks at math so that is where I put my focus.

I love to read but I read technical books.

 

[LJRJR]

I read with my DD7 every night, she reads the book, and I listen to her, she feels comfortable with me next to her incase she misses a word. I need to encourage her to read on her own more and stress that even if you dont know one word, you will still understand the story in the end. I go over sight words with my DS5 most nights, or we read a book, and I read a short story to my DS3 in the evening as well. It is our way of calming down.

 

[momto2girls]

I read to my kids (4 and 7) everyday. Of course my 7 year old can read a lot of things on her own, but I still think it is vitally important to have someone else read to her as well. I read her books that are above her reading level. Even when she is a very fluent reader, I still plan to read more complex books to her/with her.