Reading

Books with chapters, such as Kayla & the Magical Tree, will probably be too long to read aloud in one session, but be sure to include them for older children. Reading one chapter a day is a great way to hook kids on books, just like the TV soap opera serials hook adults on TV.   Here is a checklist to use when choosing books. Of course, which checklist items to use … [Read more...] about Guide for Dads: Choosing Appropriate Chapter Books, Part 1

Some dads believe that non-fiction books are boring. Wrong! Children are fascinated by the world around them. Non-fiction books unlock some of this world’s secrets and set children thinking about other secrets. Remember, most of the reading that children need for their education is non-fiction, such as school textbooks. Reading aloud from non-fiction helps them read their … [Read more...] about Guide for Dads: Non-Fiction is as great as Fiction!

Predictable books, also known as pattern books, are easier for children to understand and read because a familiar pattern is repeated many times in the book. For example, here’s an excerpt from a predictable book in which a girl plays Hide and Seek with her grandmother (each line is on a different page, accompanied by a drawing to represent the action:   Grandma looks … [Read more...] about Guide for Dads: Predictable Books Make Things Easy and Fun

There are many types of books. The key point when deciding what types of books to choose is: Introduce children to a variety of books. In this way, we widen their horizons. Here are some book types to consider.   Story books   When most dads think of reading aloud, they think of story books. These come in many types including folk tales, fairy tales, series about … [Read more...] about Guide for Dads: Many Types of Books to Choose from

A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. - Arab Proverb   Bookstores are another good source of reading aloud material. One advantage of buying books is that having books of their own provides a special feeling for children. They may have a favorite book, just like they have a favorite toy. Many bookstores have a children’s section. These often have comfortable … [Read more...] about Guide for Dads: Bookstores