Guide for Dads: It’s Not a Race

A fondness for reading changes the inevitable dull hours of our life into exquisite hours of delight.  – Charles de Montesquieu

 

The key point is: Reading aloud is a journey, not a race. The longer it takes to get to the end of the book, the better. Our main focus is not on the book; the book is merely a tool for engaging

children in a discussion about life and, to a lesser extent, about language.

 

Haste makes waste

 

Pronounce words clearly but naturally. If we make an error, no worries. We just go back and reread the sentence. Letting children know that we have made a mistake, tells the children that mistakes

are not disasters, that it’s okay to make them sometimes. This realistic approach to mistakes helps ease children’s worries about reading and encourages them to take chances when doing their own reading and in things children do while we read aloud to them. More on these things children do while we read aloud in later sections of this chapter.

 

Dad reminder: You can start to read to your kids at ANY age. It’s fun for the kids and dad. It really is a dad duty!

 

– George Jacobs, Ph.D. and Wan Loh Inn, Ed.D.

 

Dr. George Jacobs, Ph.D. and Dr. Wan Loh Inn, Ed.D. are the authors of many books (including “The Read Aloud Guide”, textbooks for teachers and students, curriculum guides, and children’s

storybooks).

 

Find out more about reading aloud to your kids.