Moms are always juggling with time. I know I am. Time is the one thing I don’t have enough of. In spite of that, I take time to read aloud to my kids.
This is not to show off any of my amazing mothering skills. As if I have any. Truth be told, I struggle to find some time to read aloud to my kid. It’s a challenge for any parent to find time to do it.
However, I do my best to find the time. As challenging as it maybe, it’s worth all the trouble.
Based on this research, reading physical books out loud, enhances interaction between the reader and the listener.
Physical books produced the most positive interactions by far. The researchers observed both parents and children making more comments about the story and engaging in more back-and-forth dialogue.
If that isn’t enough of a good reason to read aloud to kids, then I don’t what is. My friends have been asking me how I find time to read aloud to my kid. Hence, is the reason why I am sharing my 6 useful tips to find time to read aloud to kids.
6. Go Beyond Bed Time.
Usually the first thing that comes to mind when reading aloud to kids is bedtime. Reading aloud is often associated with bedtime routine.
There is nothing wrong with that. I tried doing that as well and found that it didn’t work with my schedule well. There is no law that reading aloud should be done before bedtime. Go beyond the bedtime routine to find time to read aloud to kids.
5. Allot A Minimum Time For It.
I find that it’s more manageable and doable to read aloud to my kid when I’ve set a minimum time to do it. Instead of trying to finish the book to get it over and done with, it’s best to do it little by little. That way, it’s easier to allot a minimum time to read aloud.
Personally, 15 to 20 minutes work well for me and my kid. Setting aside 15 to 20 minutes to read aloud doesn’t seem as taxing as compared to setting aside an hour. Just think about it.
4. Make Sure The Book Is Accessible.
If there is one that I appreciate lying around my house is the book I’m reading to my kid. It could be on the kitchen table, on the sofa, on the floor; I don’t care. As long as my kid can easily access it anytime, I’m good with it.
The last place I would stow the book I’m reading aloud to my kid is on the shelf. Once a book ends up on the shelf, it’s forgotten. So, I avoid stowing it there.
3. Freshen Up.
It feels good to freshen up first before picking up that book. This is especially true after a hard day’s work. Let’s face it. The last thing any exhausted parent wants to do is to read a book aloud.
A quick shower or even a change of clothes can do wonders. I often tell my working mom friends to change first before they pick up the book. That way, they don’t end up grouchy while reading aloud. Keep in mind that reading aloud should be fun for the kids. Freshening up can really do wonders for the mood of an exhausted parent.
2. Choose A Fun Book.
It’s important to choose a fun book for the kids. When it comes to fun books, the list is long. It could be hard to choose a fun book from that long list.
I usually don’t limit myself to the usual children’s books that are considered top selling and classic. In my opinion, some parents make that mistake of choosing standard children’s books. Truth be told, some of the classic children’s books might be boring for some kids.
To avoid ending up with a boring book to read aloud, I let my kid choose the book. Only my kid knows what a fun book is.
For example, my kid loves the series of books from Phineas and Ferb. This particular series of books isn’t exactly classic. Still, my kid enjoys all the adventures of Phineas and Ferb. So, who am I to deprive him a daily dose of Phineas and Ferb?
1. Prioritize Reading Aloud.
There’s a lot that I can do with the 15-minute time that I allot for reading aloud. I can do the laundry, vacuum the floor, and even prep the next-day’s meal. I mean, 15 minutes for a busy mom like me can do wonders for my daily schedule. That is if I prioritize getting housework over reading aloud to my kid.
The point is, I don’t really care if my house is not in order as long as I am able to spend some time reading aloud to my kids. I feel that it’s more beneficial to prioritize reading aloud to kids than having a clean house. That kind of mindset should make it easy for any parent to find some time to read aloud to their kids.
My list of 6 useful tips is pretty easy to follow. There’s nothing complicated about it. So, if there’s one thing I can say to some parents out there struggling to find time to read aloud to their kids. It’s doable.
When your child learns to read at an early age, it expands their vocabulary and opens up their love for learning. It helps build their confidence and vastly improves their learning abilities.
And based on my experience, having the right reading methodology when teaching your child learn to read makes a world of difference.
I should know as I made that mistake. 😢
In fact, you can read my story about my child’s struggle with reading here and how we were able to help my child become an advanced reader here. 😀🤗