Children! If You Have Little Ones, Do You Read Stories to Them at Night??

...Hi there jaiho, That is very special, it is very nice to have a bond like that with a child. I cannot remember my parents reading stories to me, but my dad was an avid reader of everything. I picked that trait up from him, I love books and I collect them. Books are wonderful, full of worlds beyond our own. Thanks to whoever invented the printing press. Thank you very much for stopping by, take care.

No, you misunderstood what I was saying. I do read with my children. I have always read with my children. Even when they were babies and could not understand what I was saying, I would read to them and show them pictures in books and identify objects, so that they would learn and understand. They learned to walk and talk early probably because I do spend so much time with them. They both had a very large vocabulary at an early age, and I think it is from the reading and other skill building play that we did together. As I said, I do think that reading with your children is important, and I agreed with the concept of the program. I think it is fantastic if it brought even one family together by using books as a bonding experience. What I objected to was the fact that they insisted that it be done every single day for an entire month, and if it wasn't, then the children were penalized. I try to read with my children every day, but sometimes it just does not happen, and I am an avid reader and so are my children. I think it is unrealistic to expect that parents have the time to read with their children individually every single day for at least a half an hour a day. On a normal basis, we would read together as a family and use it as a family bonding time, and I think that is a good thing, but this program would not allow that. The children that completed the reading every single day for a week were given a reward (there were four weekly awards that could be earned by each child), which I support. If every child in a classroom read every single day in week, then the classroom had a party at the end of the week (for all four weeks). However, if even one child did not read every day, then the classroom did not get a party, and the rest of the class would take it out on the child (or children) that were not able to meet the reading goals. That is the part that I thought was the most objectionable. If the reading goals were achieved for every student all four weeks, then at the end of the program the class got an entire day of recess, which included fun reading activities and games. That would have been nice, but again, if the goals were not met, then the child (or children) that were not able to meet the goals were harassed by the other students.

...Hi agaain, Thanks for clarifying, sorry about that. As you said. it is very hard to do what they wanted especially with parents working, and busy schedules. If anything the program should have been voluntary with extra credit given when it happened instead of the other way where they penalized the children which stresses the children out and the parents as well. Take it easy.

...Hi there purplealabaster, I can understand how you feel about being forced to do what the school or teacher wanted done. But if I am understanding you correctly, from that experience you and the children continued to read even after the time frame for reporting that you did was over. If that is true, then the teacher accomplished his or her goal. There is a saying "Reading is fundamental" which I think is so true, it is the basis of our lives. Thanks so much for your response. Take good care.

You are right, artistry - reading is a great gift for us human beings. Interesting thought that the children want to go to a safe place to hear the stories again. I still like to read some stories at least twice. Some Bible stories I have read many times and there is often something new that I did not see the first time - or maybe have forgotten.. Maybe we are like kids, we know how the story ends and like to hear it again - it feels safe that way.

...Hi there buenavida, What a nice thing you do to help the children. I have heard the same about children. I think it is that they find a safe place to go in their favorite stories where they know what is going to happen so they want to visit there over and over again. I was not read to as a child that I can regmember, but I have my father's love of reading in my bones, I love books. New worlds open up for us. Your grandmother did give you an excellent gift. Thanks for sharing, take good care.

Hi artistry! Sorry to hear that you are near that oil spill. It's awful that we keep digging for oil instead of using solar power which is easier to get and could actually cost very little. There are many technologies that already exist but it's human greed that uses ones where we have to pay money. Here they have built several buildings which do not need any electricity to heat and operate the building. Anyways, I hope the oil spill problem will be completely solved soon. Take care!

...Hi there 1hopefulman, Oh how nice to be where you are and not down here watching the oil corrude everything it touches. "o(. Hope you are well. You make an interesting point about the child being the focus of the attention by the parent. I know as a youngster I craved attention. I think some young egos are fragile and need all the positive attention they can get. Thanks for your response. Enjoy your weekend. Take good care.

...Hi there, Thanks for your good wishes, we are not physically close to the area where the oil is flowing out. But the thought of the people down there is very depressing. So hopefully as you say the problem will be solved soon. That is great about the building that uses some other source, it would be sensible to use alternative sources for energy. Take good care.

...Hi elfwillow, Welcome to the ranch, enjoy, you will meet some very nice people here. You did a good thing and your daughter will benefit from it. Reading and the love of books is wonderful. People may have laughed at you but it is said that if you play classical music while you are pregnant, the child will have a higher intelligence level. So never too young to stimulate and help little ones achieve and grow. Keep up the good work, your daughter will thank you. Thanks for sharing and take care.

...Hi there am4peace, I think children's imaginations should be stimulated, I think it helps with the development of the child's mind and also their growth. Even adults are helped by creative thinking. It also keeps adults young at heart. So reading stories to chidren makes them think and thinking is very good in my opinion. Thank you for your response, take care.

....Hi again, forgot to say welcome to the ranch, enjoy yourself.

...Hi cher, I think one of the possible benefits to adults when they read to children is that it destresses them. Reading I think has a calming effect on the reader. So both the child who enjoys hearing the story and the parent are each benefiting in some way besides the joy of a happy child. Thanks so much for your reply, take care.

...Hi there danoulma, He loves what he hears and the story has pulled him into whereever it is and he feels very comfortable. I would suggest that you put some other story books maybe on his bed so that he will have to move them and in so doing one of those books may grab his attention and bring it to you, but only for you, he is happy with his one story "o). May God bless your little one and you for that matter. Take care, thanks for your reply.

.....Hi there macdingolinger, Reading to children I feel stimulates their brains and their imaginations, I think it helps with brain development and growth as well. Curiosity even helps adults grow and stay young at heart. When we read, there are questions posed between the lines and it is an interesting process. Thank you so much for stopping by, take good care.