I can only fall back on how I encouraged my children to read in the 60s. One thing I did do, for which I was seriously mocked, was read aloud to my baby bump. After she was born, I read to my daughter every day. We had rag books which could be washed and re-read and there was always one stuck in her pram. By the time I was pregnant with my second child, my daughter and I read books together to the new baby bump and then the same with my third child, even if the book was only a picture book of farmyard or zoo animals and we read the name of the animal.
I used my local library all the time and my kids were encouraged to pick out a book for
There were always books in our house and I followed the routine set by my parents. We didn't have TV until 1956, and only then because I regularly disappeared to the next-door neighbor’s house to
watch The Lone Ranger. Once we had done our school work and reading, then we could watch TV. My children could watch the children’s hour programs from 4.45 pm until 6.00 pm and then the TV was switched off and the reading began. They read a page from their books, each helping the other, and then I would read a chapter of the family book to them. The last book we read as a family was Watership Down.
In between times, while other parents refused to let their children read ‘rubbish’ comics, mine had their pick of whatever they pleased, one comic each per week which they all shared. They had their pick of the Dandy, Beano, Bunty, and Beezer and often, the day after getting their comics from
I hear today that parents are encouraged to not teach their children to read at home as that is a job for teachers and schools. I don’t agree, especially with early reading programs like Hooked on Phonics and LeapFrog readily available. I can’t think of a more pleasing aspect of being a parent than sitting with your children and sharing the written word. My children are now all in their fifties and still avid readers. I like to think they had a good start with what we shared as a family.
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I've seen evidence that Bumps benefit from listening to music, so why not the music of mother's voice?
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I so agree, Dr Bob!
DeleteI also think listening to stories encourages children to want to learn which prepares them for school. Good post Victoria!
ReplyDeleteMy contention with modern media has always been - what would we do if all the electronics failed? Could children today read and write if they didn't have keyboards and other devices? Thanks for the comment.
DeleteHi Victoria, my children had comics, too. I had comics. My weekly subscription to the Bunty (also from the DC Thomson stable) continued far longer than it might have done because my dad read it! And my gran...
ReplyDeleteIf we had any of those original copies they may be worth something in pristine condition - which none of my kids comics ever were! Although my parents were sniffy about it, there was actually a lot of good, ethical stuff in those comics.
DeleteHello Victoria, great post and very pertinent in today's age of instant gratification ie social media. I read to my boys when they were younger and we made regular trips to the library. I'm not sure how much of that has stuck, though, I don't think either of them read much anymore. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping in! I don't mind betting that at some point they both might find relaxation in reading a book - they have the skill set and won't ever lose it.
ReplyDeleteI think reading to your baby bump is the perfect way to start that journey.
ReplyDeleteSo many people thought I was nuts and were really worried about me! Guess I intrinsically knew something they didn't.
DeleteMy parents never censured what I read, so I never did with my own kids either. I devoured novels, even reading The Godfather in one day, starting at breakfast, and reading straight through on a summer day, until about 3 in the morning! I was about 12 at the time, and it was the first time I ever read any real description of sex...and violence. I read comic books with as much enthusiasm as novels. I read Shakespeare when I was in grade school. And when I asked my dad what communism was, he gave me books about Fidel Castro's take-over in Cuba, as well as other books, and told me to ask him if I had questions. That's how we learned: we read.
ReplyDeleteThe Godfather in one day? Whew! It took me about a week, but I've read other books in a day so guess it's whatever grabs your interest. Your dad was ahead of the game on supplying you with reading material to answer your questions.
DeleteI love the idea of reading to your baby bump. It's well known that babies in the womb "hear" their mothers' voices, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if your babies found it soothing to be read to. I've noticed with toddlers that often they find being read to soothing, too, and if they are grumpy a quiet read of some of their favourite books helps calm them.
ReplyDeleteI also read comics as a child - along with anything else I could get hold of.
I've enjoyed this month's topic. Really enjoyed your post!
Thanks, Helena. We've had some good topics, haven't we?
DeleteYou were a good mom. I never read to my foetus, except when I read aloud to his older brother. We also started reading to our kids as infants. Even a very small child can enjoy "Pat the Bunny." When I was in school (back in the dark ages), the teachers would often read to the class just before school was dismissed. I remember the Limberlost books. Anne of Green Gables and Ethan Frome. Even the rambunctious kids settled down to listen. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading Girl of the Limberlost ages ago but had no idea there were more books. I'll have to look into that as I really did enjoy reading about Elnora and a part of the world that was totally new to me. Glad you enjoyed my post.
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