31 Days: Read. A lot.

This is the fifth post in the series: 31 Days of Intentional Parenting. Find all the posts in this series here.

Ryan turned six in September, just before the school’s “cut-off” date. When it came time to think about kindergarten it was stressful to decide whether to enroll him in school, keep him out another year, or homeschool him. But because Jared and I both have a teaching background, we felt he was academically ready and ultimately decided to go ahead and place him in school.

This means he started first grade this year as a still-five-year-old, and the youngest in his class. But his age hasn’t held him back–a few weeks into this school year his first grade teacher recommended he start attending second grade part of the day (specifically for reading and spelling). According to his test results and behaviors, he’s reading on a third grade+ level.

Now since it’s my blog I guess I can brag just a little about this proud mommy moment, but my point of sharing isn’t just to gloat :). Since he’s a good reader, and Emery (almost four) is following the same pattern, I’ve had a lot of friends wonder what my “secret” is. Of course I’m bias in thinking my children are brilliant, but honestly and objectively, my kids are probably pretty average, and this is a “secret” that can be passed any child.

My secret (which really isn’t so much of a secret) to raising good readers, is just to read. A lot. And that’s it. No special program, no crazy supplies to buy. Not even a huge amount of time. Just good old-fashioned turn off the TV and video games, and read to your kids.

(Now that I’ve shared the secret can I get a book contract, a speaking engagement, maybe a sponsor?)

We–the parents, have more control over our kids than we sometimes like to think. And I don’t mean this in a tyrannical-limit-their-independence-stiffle-their-personalities kind of way. I mean, that we can decide to be intentional parents. We can decide what we think is best for our kids, and then implement that.

For me, raising good readers was important and so I started to prepare even before they were born. But don’t get discouraged if it wasn’t that way for. It is easier the younger they are, but it’s never too late to start.

Here are just few things we do to make our home literature and reading rich and to encourage good readers:

• Have lots of books available. This doesn’t mean spend a lot of money! Ask grandparents for books for birthdays and Christmas, keep an eye out at yard sales, and make regular trips to the thrift store and flea markets. One of our favorite family activities is going to Goodwill to look at books.  I try to budget about $10 a month for this activity, and at $0.50 a book, we often come home with a large stack of new reads.

• Utilize the library. Take them to storytime if your library has a good program. Bring a bag, and let them choose a big stack of books. Kids are more likely to read if they’ve picked the book.

• Make reading time fun. The best way I know is to have fun yourself!! Use expression as you read, choose good quality books, use props and act out the stories, make a fort or fun “reading spot,” do activities or crafts that relate, etc. Guaranteed, if you think reading is boring, so will your kids.

• Keep books available wherever you go. We have a bag of books and literacy-themed activities that stays in the van and goes everywhere with us. When we have a wait at the doctor’s office, are in the long after-school pick-up line (or wherever!), the bag keeps my kids entertained and they are less likely to act up from boredom.

• Read at bedtime. Maybe it’s because they get to stall going to bed a few minutes more, but my kids love taking a stack of books with them to bed. (Jared and I also try to read a bedtime story to them along with scriptures and prayers, although in our family, that story is a “reward” for cooperating with the bedtime routine. If there is too much whining or they take too long to put their pajamas on or brush their teeth, they lose the bedtime story.)

• Incorporate reading with your kids into your daily/nightly routine. Make it one of those big rocks. If it’s not a priority, there will never be time for it.

• Don’t be afraid of chapter books without pictures. Teach your kids (even your young kids!) to stretch their attention spans and use their imaginations by making a “movie” of the story in their head. Try giving them paper and crayons while you read and have them illustrate their own pictures.

• And lastly, go turn off the blasted TV (I’m saying this one to myself!!), and just read.