School has started, fall sports have begun, and you may be wondering if you need to continue to work a story time into your bedtime routine. After all, kindergartners are starting to learn to read. They may have homework that involves making letter sounds and recognizing letters and words. And first and second graders may be reading things to you as part of their homework. Isn’t that enough daily reading time?
It is great for kids to practice their beginning and continuing reading skills. And you can also still read to them. There is a lot that they can gain from continuing to have a parent-child story time throughout elementary school. First, kids have been working all day in school and at home via homework to learn and polish their reading skills. It can be a welcome break to have someone read to them. Especially when kids are just learning to read and might be struggling, it can be good to remind them that they like stories and that this reading thing might eventually be worth it.
Second, you can read much more complicated stories with bigger words to your child than they might be able to read themselves. This helps your child build a number of skills, including following storylines and increasing their vocabulary. Also, while they might have to put all of their concentration into sounding out words when they are reading to you, when you read to them, they might have the opportunity to process more of the story. You can further enrich their experience by asking them questions or making observations about what is happening or what the characters are thinking and feeling.
Third, apart from the learning benefits, story time gives you and your child a chance to connect, share some time together and maybe have a snuggle, too. When your child reads to you as practice, they may get frustrated, which isn’t a very calming time. Reading to your child gives you time to relax together. Remember, if you are not a big fan of reading, you can find an audiobook that you can both listen to. Or make up a story that is all your own!
So find a good book and snuggle up with your kid for a story time! As they get better at reading you might switch back and forth but remember story time should be about your child practicing other skills besides direct reading. Sometimes all it needs to be about is imagination and sharing some time together.
