When I was a child, I loved nothing more than reading a book with my mother. I remember how she would change her voice according to the characters and how it delighted me, especially the deep, serious tones she’d bring out for some of the more “sinister” characters. There were a few books that I would beg her to read over and over. I remember how I’d know exactly what was going to happen in the story, all the while remaining eager to hear her read as if each time were the first. Even when my mom tried to steer me to something different or new, I would passionately protest saying, “No, I want to read that book again!”. Most of the time, my mom would indulge me.
Many families engage in the joys of sharing a book together. This is especially true for families with younger children from birth through kindergarten. However, sometimes there is this idea that readers in grades 2-5 are already “independent” and no longer need the experience of shared reading. Families might even believe that older elementary readers should be doing all of their reading on their own. I’d like to challenge that notion and say that shared family reading experiences are just as enjoyable and important for our older elementary-aged children.
Now more than ever, the joy and comfort of family reading play an important role in both literacy development and overall well-being. From a Health Tips Newsletter put out by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, pediatric experts state, “Shared reading and storytelling between a caregiver and a child build strong bonds. By creating this strong foundation, shared reading and storytelling can ease feelings of stress for both adult and child and replace them with feelings of safety and security that can help families cope with adversity.” While the pandemic has been a time of uncertainty, fatigue, and an array of other serious emotions, the ritual and routine of adults and children reading aloud together can provide stability and comfort.
With that in mind, I encourage families to use our current abundant time at home together to engage in family reading with children of all ages. This can be done with picture books (many are written at a 3rd-grade level and beyond), a chapter book, or even books from a beloved series like Harry Potter. Adults and children can share the reading aloud and then discuss what they have read, make predictions and even discuss new vocabulary. Don’t be afraid to reread beloved books several times – there is joy in the familiarity and routine.
