The Read Aloud

As a teacher, one of the most common frustrations I hear from my middle school parents is, “My child doesn’t like to read. How can I get them to read more?” The number one solution to this problem is to read to them on a daily basis from the time that they are infants. Of course, this advice is of no use to the parent of a child who is already ten years old. To the parents of infants, however, the opportunity is before you right now.

For this reason, a primary element of the bedtime routine should always be reading aloud to your child from age appropriate books. Even after the child grows and learns to read him or herself, it is still important to read books aloud that are at the upper end of their reading level, giving them exposure to vocabulary and content of ever-growing complexity.

In addition, it is important to interact with your child while reading; don’t just read the words. Talk briefly about what the stories are about and what they mean. Pause occasionally and ask your child to make predictions about where a story will go. Use it as an opportunity for learning and building relationships.

This, combined with making a wide variety of books available to children throughout the day and throughout their lives, will engender and excitement and joy around reading that will never go away.

Music & Song

In addition to being rich with opportunities for fellowship with our kids, brain research also suggests that music is good for the mind. Essentially, the physiological studies of music and the mind are revealing how makes for phenomenal mental exercise.

In addition, singing a song to your child also opens up a unique and significant kind of opportunity for emotional intimacy. What you sing and how well you sing might matter tremendously to the outside world, but they make no difference to your baby. Babies crave only the sound of their parents’ voices and the touch of their hands. For those who “cannot sing,” this is your chance to let go and dive in anyway.

These three simple routines—brushing teeth, reading books, and singing songs—done day after day and year after year over the early course of a child’s development, contribute significantly to developing healthy children with bright and active minds.