Read Aloud Tips for Parents
I love sharing fun and useful products for parents! Some links I use are affiliate links including links for Amazon.com. I get paid a small commission, without any additional charge to you if you make purchases from the links. The commissions are used to fund this site in order to bring fun and helpful content to parents! Thank you!
Reading aloud to your kids is a great way to…
connect as a family
promote language and literacy development in your home
de-stress
decrease screen time
increase conversations and discussions
discuss and relate to good and bad decisions characters make
have fun and make memories with your kids
How do you Read Aloud?
Do what makes it fun for you!
Preview the book, look at chapter titles or look through the pictures.
Add drama and voices for characters.
Stop during a story to…
make a prediction
figure out a confusing part
retell the story
discuss what is happening
answer a question
Don’t be afraid of those great picture books that have LOTS of words, just use a bookmark and treat it like a chapter book… go back to it later.
Reread favorite books…over and over and over!
Kids of all ages love to enjoy books with the family…including babies! Start the reading habit early! Check out this video of a read aloud with a baby. Who is having more fun?
During a read aloud, babies…
relate to their parents voice
hear the rhythm of speech
feel the physical closeness of being held
observe emotions and characteristics of human communication
When I taught 1st grade, parents often asked if they should stop reading to their kids, so the kids could get the practice they needed.
No!
Do both!
Read to them and listen to them!
Kids can comprehend and discuss stories with more complexity than they are able to decode words in, so break out those great classic chapter books!
When kids begin to enter into middle school and beyond, take on more of a book club feel for sharing books with them.
If they are reading a book for class, get yourself a copy and see if they would like to chat about the book at different parts. Be prepared to revisit Shakespeare! If your kids are not keen on reading or talking about books at this age…they may change their tune if the books are complex!
I LOVE books, and have unapologetically “invested” (splurged) on books for my kids and my classroom! Where do I get my books?
Libraries
Thrift shops
Charming neighborhood stores
Amazon
Gift shops
Where ever I can get my hands on books!
Need a few recommendations for great read aloud books???
My good friend Maureen sent me a list of her favorites read aloud books! She works in the Children’s Room at the Wayland Free Public Library in Massachusetts!
Animal Colors or Animal Shapes by Christopher Silas Neal
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen
The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
Dragons Love Tacos by Zach Rubin
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
Polar Bear’s Underwear by Tupera Tupera
Castaway Cats by Lisa Wheeler
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen
Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell
Need a few more? Here are some favorites I read to my classes and my own kids at home…
Mouse Mess by Linnea Asplind Riley
Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
Bats at the Beach by Brian Lies
Recess at 20 Below by Cindy Aillaud
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Bear Snores On by Karma WIlson
The Art Lesson by Tomie dePaola
Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
The Very Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle
Stuart Little by E. B. White
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling
Any non-fiction books your kids are interested in! You will learn new facts right along with them!
Remember magazines can be fun to read together! Here are some recommendations and links to their websites…
Highlights This magazine contains stories to share, art work, poems and puzzles.
Ladybug Stories and poems to share with early readers.
National Geographic Kids Read about animal facts!
Sports Illustrated Kids Check out sports interviews and news!
I could go on…
but instead, please share some of your favorites with other parents on
Noteworthy Parenting’s Facebook or Instagram pages!
Ready to create a Parenting Plan for raising your kids?
Click the photo below to get started!
I love sharing fun and useful products for parents! Some links I use are affiliate links including links for Amazon.com. I get paid a small commission, without any additional charge to you if you make purchases from the links. The commissions are used to fund this site in order to bring fun and helpful content to parents! Thank you!