Parents -- Too Busy to Read?
We've heard from many of you that spring is coming early this year.
That likely means an increase in chores and projects to fill an
already busy schedule. Do we dare recommend that parents take time to
read? At the end of demanding days, it can be relaxing to spend a few
minutes unwinding with a good book. It may put the mind to rest and
allow you to fall asleep more easily. A previous newsletter, "The
Pursuit and Pleasure of Reading",
covered reading lists for
teens, but we wanted to use this newsletter to provide reading
suggestions for parents.
Reading for Pleasure
Looking back to our homeschooling days, we realize anew how important
it is to plan regular times of refreshment for moms and dads outside
of the daily routine. One way to accomplish this is through reading.
Think of it as your time to play, time to increase your imagination
and creativity, time to escape. Mason Cooley says, "Reading gives us
someplace to go when we have to stay where we are."
|Both of HSLDA’s high school consultants homeschooled their children from kindergarten through the 12th grade. Learn more >>
There are genres of literature
to fit everyone's personalities and likes. Fiction can be chosen if
your mind is weary and you don't want to reason out anything for a
while. Biographies and autobiographies can expand your interest in
others' lives and reveal how they surmounted difficulties or dealt
with their pinnacles of success.
Maybe you are lonely or in need of encouragement. C. S. Lewis says
that "...literature adds to and enriches the necessary competencies
that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it
irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become." Are you
feeling as if you are in the desert? On the HSLDA high school website, we have some recommended
reading that will bring springs of water to irrigate your soul.
If you have opportunity, joining or forming a book club may add to the
fun of reading. It'll be a place where you can enjoy bouncing off your
insights while hearing from others. A book club can also be a place to
make new friends or deepen existing relationships.
Reading for Continuing Education
For you Type A personalities, reading may need to be more than play!
There are continuing education conferences and classes for many
professions, so consider reading in this same vein. It will increase
your vocabulary, fluency, and expression of ideas. It may also
increase reading and comprehension skills. In addition, you can learn
more about people, places, and concepts that are new to you.
You may be surprised when your reading encourages you to develop a new
hobby. Sometimes from a simple illustration, an idea is born and a
whole new world opens up to you. One of our grandmothers only had an
8th-grade education; yet, through self-education, she became an expert
in antiques. It brought her much satisfaction and her family benefited
from her collection.
Do you wish to learn more about a subject your teen is studying? Try
Open Courseware or other free downloads, and audit a college course at
your leisure. You may find that the information gleaned will help you
converse with others on more topics.
Your reading will provide a model for your teens to follow. They often
catch our actions before our words or suggestions! To further instill
this habit, you can choose a night once a month when each member of
your family (including you and even the little guys) can share a recap
of the books read. On occasion, pick a theme (for example, a
historical era or specific person) for the books being read or perhaps
stipulate all of the selections to be sci-fi, poetry, or adventure
novels. We hope this will result in your becoming a family of readers.
Reading for the Brain
Reading keeps our minds sharp and active. We're all interested in
that, right? Brain food is necessary to stimulate our thinking, moods,
and souls. As with the body's need for different kinds of food to
remain healthy, so our brains need various types of books and
resources to be well maintained. We've mentioned some of these above,
but we believe one of the best sources of brain food is the Bible and
Devotionals, books of
reflections, and stories of
missionaries will inspire you to keep on training and nurturing your
lives and those of your families. Check out some selections from the
Memorizing has shown to improve cognitive function in our brains, so
putting Scripture to memory will not only hide it in our hearts so
that we won't sin against God, but will help sustain our memories. You
might wish to invite a friend to be a partner in memorizing a passage,
someone to recite to and who will provide accountability and
encouragement. Maybe, though, you will challenge the whole family to
memorize a chapter of the Bible and talk together about the meaning
and application of the passage to your lives. There are a number of
organizations to aid memorization, including the Bible Bee, which offers you memory cards
and incentives for the whole family.
There's no time like the present to plan regular "dates" with a book.
Find a comfortable, quiet spot and enjoy picking up a book and
reading. Remember, though, that "it is a good rule, after reading a
new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read
an old one in between. If that is too much for you, you should at
least read one old one to every three new ones." (C. S. Lewis in
Athanasius on the Incarnation)
Next month we look forward to bringing you suggestions on what makes a
strong college applicant.
Heading off to enjoy a book,
Becky Cooke and Diane Kummer
HSLDA High School Consultants