It’s no secret that I love to read! I often share what I’m reading on social media. I love to read before bed, and I usually can get through a few books while on vacation. A love of reading can come naturally, but it can also be nurtured and developed at home. No matter your children’s ages, as a parent, you are the best person to help them learn and develop a love for books.
My guest today firmly believes that a love of reading starts at home. Sarah Mackenzie has made it her mission to help families create meaningful connections through reading books. She is the author of The Read-Aloud Family and Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace. She is also the host of the Read-Aloud Revival Podcast.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- 5 tips on how to create a habit of reading in your home
- How to start reading with your pre-teen and teenage children (hint: you don’t have to be the one to do the reading!)
- The benefits of reading aloud with your children
- And more!
No matter your relationship with reading, I pray that this episode is an encouragement to you today!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Read Aloud Revival Website
- The Read Aloud Revival Podcast
- The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
- Paul Galdone’s illustrated books
- Paul Galdone’s Folktale Collections here and here
- The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don and Audrey Wood
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) As your children get older, reading aloud will look different. When we think of reading aloud to our children, the image that comes to mind is likely reading a picture book with a young child sitting on your lap. However, when your children become pre-teens and teenagers, this may look like listening to an audiobook together while doing other tasks. If you are trying to start a habit of reading aloud with your older children, a good starting point is to listen to an audiobook while in the car together rather than trying to convince them to let you read to them.
2) Reading the same book over and over can be helpful. You may feel like you have to find new and exciting books to keep your children’s interest as you read to them. This isn’t necessarily true! Studies show that reading the same books over and over helps your children pick up vocabulary faster and easier. So find a few favorite books that you and your child don’t mind reading over and over again.
3) Reading should be an invitation. If you try to force your children to get into reading, you may be met with resistance. Instead, go to your bookshelf and pick out 3-5 books randomly. Place these books around your house where the cover can be seen. Your children will naturally be drawn to them on their own. Bookstores use this same strategy to get people to buy certain books!
About Sarah:
Sarah Mackenzie is an author, speaker, and podcast host. Sarah helps parents all over the world make meaningful connections with their kids through books. She is the author of The Read-Aloud Family and Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler’s Guide to Unshakable Peace. She lives in Eastern Washington with her husband, Andrew, and their six children. In addition to homeschooling their children, Sarah loves to make sure her family has all the best books she can get her hands on.
