We’ve long heard about the benefits of reading aloud to young children:
• Increased vocabulary
• Parent-child bonding
• Speech development
As we read to our children in the homeschool setting we move beyond brightly colored picture books to chapter books whose descriptive language eliminate the need for elaborate illustrations. To truly engage in these narratives, children need additional tools formed over years of being read to:
• Attention span
• Imagination
• Listening skills
Generations ago these skills were acquired naturally in an environment where families curled up by the fire to listen as one family member read aloud. Today we have to compete with all manner of media that bombard the senses and treat the brain like a sponge rather than an active participant.
There’s so much to gain by making read aloud time a priority and so much to lose if we don’t. So all together now…
Read early! Read often!
Photo by Spamily
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