“It takes a village to raise a child.”
I’m sure this proverb is familiar to you, but its truth cannot be fully appreciated until we become parents ourselves. This village may include the godsend of grandparents, but also may include extended family members, pediatricians, dentists, daycare providers, teachers, coaches, and so many others who help us with the overwhelming task of child rearing. Grandparents certainly deserve a special place of reverence in this village, but, as parents, we understandably lean on all of these people as needed.
Each ‘village member’ applies their expertise to help foster the growth and development of a healthy, well-rounded, compassionate child. However, there is one crucial activity of child rearing, which does not have an expert more qualified than you.
Which expertise am I speaking of?
You, as a parent (grandparents too!), reading aloud regularly with your child.
I happen to have been a Kindergarten teacher for my entire career. I am excellent at reading aloud with children. But am I better than you?
No!
The reason is simple: you are your child’s parent. No one knows your child better than you, and that ‘insider’ knowledge gives you a great advantage. You possess a wealth of background information that you can draw from as you read.
You know which vocabulary words are not quite understood, and you can stop to define or discuss them. Your strong family bond provides your child with the feeling of comfort and safety to easily ask, “What does that mean?” when you have overlooked a difficult word while reading.
This simple exchange establishes a routine that models an important lesson: understanding what you read really matters, and questions are welcome! It is a practice your child can carry into their future as an independent reader while making building vocabulary an integral part of their future reading.
Equally important, you can gently check in with your child and ask questions as your shared story unfolds. This provides an opportunity for them to reflect on their thinking, check on their understanding, question a character’s motives, make predictions…
In other words, reading becomes thinking. This also provides a framework for what they should be doing in their own minds, building comprehension as they read independently.
Also consider that many of the stories you read together will have events and issues which might be a part of your child’s ‘real world’ future. These might include challenging social issues or issues that bring you both into questioning a particular character’s actions and motivations, or maybe even a question of ethics or morality. Who is better to talk through these issues with your child than you?
Discussing things as you read together may help address issues before they become real issues in your child’s world. You can talk about a problem as it affects a character in a book with far less stress. And, if the discussed issue does occur in your child’s ‘real world’, then your gentle, loving words of guidance and support will already be in their ears, assisting them in their decision-making. What a remarkable gift for your child!
Additionally, because of the trust your child has in you, you are the single biggest advertisement for reading that your child will ever know. When you model reading to be remarkably important to you, reading will become remarkably important to them.
Your engagingly playful demeanor will model that reading is a fun activity for both of you to enjoy! Your child will view reading aloud as a great comfort, a sought-after activity. As you give each other your full and undivided attention, you model its reverence.
Students who were read to regularly at home often possess a more developed vocabulary in which to express themselves. They can explain their thinking with greater confidence, describe imagined ideas, and ask thoughtfully developed questions which deepen understanding. Their knowledge base is broadened by reading aloud, opening up neural pathways, which will assist them in future learning as they develop critical thinking skills.
Pediatricians often emphasize the importance of reading aloud because a child’s brain is at peak neuroplasticity during these early years. But the benefits don’t end there. Research shows that continuing to read aloud into the ‘tween’ years does wonders in helping a child not only develop better vocabulary and comprehension, but also fluency, making the transition into independent reading much smoother.
One of the best outcomes, though, is the remarkably close bond you both have built together over the years.
You will know your child better than most parents, which is wonderful…
But your child will also know you.
They will know, without question, that there isn’t anything the two of you can’t talk about or work through.
As they grow and you let your heart go walking out into the world with them, there is no better calming and gentle peace that comes along with this knowledge. And, for you, the expert, that is priceless.
Bio: Daniel Smith is a recently retired public school teacher who spent over 30 years being inordinately passionate about literacy while teaching Kindergarten. He began Literacy Nights in his building which blossomed into a K-3 program spanning over 20 years, helping parents realize how amazing reading aloud together can be! Today, Mr. Smith, aka The Read Aloud Guy, assists a number of local pediatricians in promoting literacy through in-person workshops and his Read Aloud Workshop channel where he guides parents towards best practices in reading aloud through his short, easy-to-digest videos.
His channel can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvzXwhpUpe3A9aYa3e25Y2hKm9P9ZB1WR
Tambien En Espanol: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvzXwhpUpe3Bq-KlGerDChW3DmwZP4mjI