All those years of reading to your child as a baby and toddler should be really paying off! At 3, you may start to notice that the emotional benefits of reading aloud are beginning to change with your child's development. Reading aloud together not only help your child grow to love reading, but it … [Read more...]
Emotional Rewards of Reading Aloud: 2 Years Old
Your child is now two—or as some have referred to it: the "terrible twos." But don't despair! As with every stage in child development, each offers something exciting and new. And (just like your little one) each stage can be wonderful and amazing in its own way. The emotional rewards of reading … [Read more...]
Emotional Rewards of Reading to Your Baby: 6—12 Months
As your baby goes from being stationary to becoming more mobile and alert, reading aloud offers significant emotional benefits to your child. Reading gives your little crawler, cruiser, or walker an excuse to rest and cuddle at different points in the day. This can help your child come to regard … [Read more...]
Emotional Rewards of Reading to Your Baby from Birth
Reading to your baby right from birth can have profound emotional benefits for your little one. And it's never too early to start. Babies thrive on routine and habit. It’s a perfect time to introduce reading as a habitual activity. Helps associate stories with bedtime or naptime, so sharing a … [Read more...]
Why Read to Kids: Emotional Rewards of Reading Aloud
Why read to kids? The reasons to read aloud to our children are so numerous that we decided to divide them up into different categories. In addition to helping kids' academic skills, there are a whole host of Social and Emotional benefits kids (and parents!) receive from reading together. While … [Read more...]
Favorite Books from Childhood: Toddler to Third Grader
I'll bet you had a list of favorite books when you were a child. Maybe it was a book that spirited you away to new worlds or introduced you to a character you admired. Maybe you loved the sound of an adult reading to you as you got ready for bed. Perhaps it was the discovery that the words strung … [Read more...]
5 Favorite Third-Grade Books from My Childhood
As a third grader, I remember curling up in a window seat to read. As I became more proficient, more books became accessible for me to read on my own. Here are some of favorite books that I just had to share with my own kids. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell Narrated by a horse, Black Beauty tells of … [Read more...]
6 Favorite First-Grade Books from My Childhood
Reading to your first grader is great fun! For this age, there are chapter books and ongoing series that keeps kids asking for more. Here are some of my childhood favorites. Thank you, Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish Amelia Bedelia is the housekeeper for Mr. and Mrs. Roger, who gets everything … [Read more...]
5 Favorite Second-Grade Books from My Childhood
I loved to read as a child and I loved being read to. While there are wonderful new children's books being published all the time, here are some favorite second-grade books from my childhood that I had to share with my own children. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett Mary Lennox is a … [Read more...]
Using Facial Expressions in Reading to Help Your Child Learn About Emotions
Reading out loud to your child should be fun for both of you! The more personality and drama you can put into your reading, the more entertaining it will be—and the more your child can learn. This is especially true in helping your child learn about emotions. You can help your child develop in this … [Read more...]
Homework Help Me!
This afternoon I sat with my preschooler, helping with her homework. I handed her crayons so she could color in (or, rather, around) some bubble letters and guided her hand over the path the bumble bee took home. It was very relaxing and enjoyable—the way I imagined helping with homework would be … [Read more...]
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Which Dr. Seuss Character Are You? Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? What Is My Child’s Learning Style? Which Emotion are you? Which Sesame Street Character Should You Be for Halloween? Are You A Helicopter Parent? … [Read more...]
Bonding Time: Creating a Cozy Reading Nook Checklist
You don’t need every item on this checklist to create a cozy reading nook for you and your child, but the key ingredients are here! Choose a good space. A corner away from the action is best for any reading nook. Good lighting is key! A window is great, but lights your child can turn on and off … [Read more...]
Top 7 Things NOT to Stress About This School Year
A new school year has begun—and while there are some of us parents who want to sing “Celebration,” others among us know the new year brings new worries. So, this year I made a list of things parents should refuse to stress about. You’re welcome. To PTA or Not to PTA? By now, you’ve probably … [Read more...]