by Sandy Fleming, (c) 1999
It's time to build (or rebuild) the habit of a family read-aloud time. Even older kids will enjoy being read to when the proper books are chosen! Let your local librarian suggest books that would intrigue your kids, whatever their ages. If your children are able readers, allow them to take turns with the adults choosing literature and reading it to the group. Make it a family affair, and choose materials that need more than one reading session.
When can your family squeeze in this worthwhile activity? Try choosing an evening to turn off the TV, video games, and computer thirty minutes before the earliest bedtimes. Use this time to calm down and relax, helping younger family members get ready for a peaceful night's sleep. Another time that works well for some families is immediately after lunch or dinner. A quiet activity allows time for foods to digest and keeps everyone calmer after eating. Also, if your family travels, try packing a book or two to read aloud in the car. The stories will occupy children of a wide age range, and will help everyone through the ride in better spirits. Again, able readers can share the reading responsibility so no one strains their voice.
Liven up your reading sessions by varying the details. Try reading in different rooms, areas, or even outdoors. How about reading inside a tent to intrigue younger children? On a rainy day, a tent made from chairs and blankets will add a sense of fun for them. If you're really brave (and agile!), try reading in a tree or at the top of the jungle gym! Beanbags and pillows make nice furniture to read and listen on, and reading in the dark with a flashlight can add a sense of adventure. Wherever you choose to read, make it exciting. Try making invitations in secret code for middle elementary students, having children take turns choosing the next location, or posting the next reading place on the refrigerator.
Readers who vary their voices, volume, pitch, and so forth will keep listeners' attention longer. Try using different voices to speak for different characters. The pace is also important: speed up when characters are excited, slow down and quiet your voice at suspenseful parts of the story, and put rich emotions into your voice when the story moves in that direction. Choose a wide variety of literature for reading sessions. Fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, adventure, mystery, romance, biographies, sports stories, animal books, poetry and more will add excitement to family reading sessions. Don't forget about reading material that doesn't come from books, such as magazine articles. By choosing a wide variety, your children will be exposed to many new types of literature and perhaps discover a new interest.
When plain reading aloud begins to seem monotonous, try some of these alternatives. Different people can be asked to speak the parts of various characters. Everyone will add their own style in this way. You can also try making a theatrical production from your story with just a little bit of planning and preparation. Another way to liven up reading sessions is to read teasers from different stories. Choose an exciting passage that leaves the climax unread. Listeners can be encouraged to supply their own thoughts about what might happen next. This is a wonderful way to train prediction and logical thinking skills, as well as help others to attend to the story being read. After everyone has had a turn to predict possible outcomes, read the author's version of events. Compare and contrast with all of the solutions and endings that were already shared.
Reading aloud is a gift that can go on and on in your child's life. Don't shelve it just because your young one has learned to read alone! Take it with you as long as possible; the benefits far outweigh the effort, and you'll be glad you did.
