For awhile, we get to choose what books our kids read. However, as they grow, they soon choose for themselves. How can we help our children be discriminatory readers? How can we help them choose the very best to fill their minds with?
What a service we do for our children when we engender a love for books! To do so, you must have books available. Use the library. Get second-hand books at a thrift store or garage sale or on Amazon. Fix your favorites with book tape as they fall apart from overuse. If we have the classics around, they will more likely choose them.
Sometimes when I had a book I wanted my kids to read, I would start reading the first couple of chapters aloud. Then, as soon as they were interested in the story line, I could leave the book sitting around, and they would sneak it to their bedroom.
Remember, invariably, if they read the book BEFORE they see the movie, they will like the book best! Also, sometimes it’s best to provide a shorter, condensed version of a classic before they are ready to dive in to the real thing. That can come later.
I love the Newberry books–for the most part. There are some choice titles there. Carry On, Mr. Bowditch for example, was my older boys’ all time favorite book when they were young. My youngest son, however, was not convinced for several chapters that this book was really that good. He was used to fantasy books, and this was just not fast-paced enough! But I kept going, reading it with him. Finally, this wonderful book won him over too!
Let your children see you read. Studies show that this teaches them tons, even when you read the newspaper! Read a good novel once in awhile and talk to them about what you enjoyed. Finding it hard to fit reading in a busy schedule, some of us keep a book in the bathroom and read a little at a time.
Read aloud to your children. By doing so we are inadvertently teaching them that reading is fun! Not only that, reading to them increases their vocabulary, deepens comprehension, and helps them learn to focus.
Discuss what you read. What a great conversation we can have with our children over something we read or they read or we all read together. Here’s a chance to get everyone’s input and stretch their thinking skills and their conversation skills.
Of course, the very best of Books are the Scriptures. If our kids here the scriptures read aloud to them and with them from very young, these words will become their friends–even before they understand them completely. It’s like the book of Isaiah. It is hard to understand–much like some poetry. But having read it many times, it has now become more familiar. And it’s become my friend.
Now I need to ask a Favor.
For Christmas this year, one of my children’s biggest request is for a list. This older child wants a list of the very best books, the ones that leave one uplifted or deep in thought or with a real sense of accomplishment.
Would you help me give this gift?
Would you help me give this gift by helping me compile this list?
I’ll share the list I come up with.
Kindly comment with books of any genre that touched you, made you a better person, or pushed you to higher heights. She wants to make sure she’s read the very Best Books.