The Scholastic's Kids & Family Reading Report states that more than half of children aged 0–5 (59%) are read aloud to at home 5–7 days a week. This declines to only one in three kids aged 6–8 (38%) and to one in six kids aged 9–11 (17%).
That means that 66% of children my son's age are not being read to by their parents.
We can do better than this. We need to do better than this. As a parent, I see my role not as a reading teacher but as a reading provider. It's up to us to make sure that reading is an everyday activity in our homes and that should include reading to your children even after they can read. Reading is not akin to tying your shoes. You don't practice and practice and when you finally get it you stop asking someone else to do it for you. I don't read to my 8-year-old because he can't read himself, I read to him …
Because when I read to him I model fluent reading with expression.
Because when I read to him I can stop and discuss vocabulary words he may skim over on his own.
Because when I read to him I can stop and share deeper knowledge of issues brought up in the reading materials.
Because when I read to him I can create a safe place to ask hard questions and share worries and challenges.
Because when I read to him I can gauge his interest and help make better suggestions for future reading material.
Because when I read to him we are doing something together that we can do no matter what the weather is outside.
Because when I read to him I can model how much I love reading.
Because when I read to him he loves it.
Do you read to your independent reader? Why? Tell us on the Scholastic Parents Facebook page!