by Donna | May 20, 2010
“If I had $500 to spend on everything I could use to train my preschoolers in faith, I would purchase the “Family Bible Library” and many, many picture books from Answers in Genesis. Children are inundated from earliest ages with the falsehoods of “millions of years,” etc.—we must counteract that information found in movies (even some of our favorite animated ones have references to it!), music, cartoons, museums, zoos, etc. with the truth. Picture books from Answers in Genesis can help you do that.” from an earlier post…
At this age, you will want to lengthen your faith reading time—and allow plenty of time for discussion and answering questions. On the lower end of this spectrum, your child may not be ready to sit for longer picture books or shorter chapter books, but keep trying! As an aside, any read aloud times that you instill in your children will help them to have longer attention spans in other scenarios, such as school and church.
1. Bible
a. The Bible itself! We like to read aloud from Proverbs oftentimes in the mornings. Moreover, my husband has a special time with our guys called “Bible talks” in which he and the boys just read a portion of the Bible and discuss it for a few minutes. No other books needed—just “what does this mean to you?” and “what do you think this is saying?” You might start with familiar Bible stories in the Old Testament and Jesus’ parables in the New Testament.
b. “The Picture Bible” by David C Cook—this was listed in the preschool section, but children up to age twelve or so will enjoy this comic-book style Bible. Ray read this whole Bible aloud to each child when he or she was around age four. Then we “assigned” this Bible (in bite-sized pieces each day) to each child when he or she was around age eleven or twelve to read to himself or herself for personal devotions. https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Bible-Story-Book-Ed/dp/1555139906
c. Family Bible Library—I reviewed this book earlier in the year (and suggested it for the upper end of of the three to six age group). This is a wonderful complete ten volume set of Bible stories. Read the review in full. If you have children eight and under, I highly recommend you find this set used, buy it, and use it every day. (That’s what we did! I read it to te kids when they turned four (sort of after Ray did “The Picture Bible”), then when each child became a fluent reader, between nine and eleven or so, he or she read the entire set to himself (or aloud to a little sibling). https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-fifty-nine-think-of-yourself-as.html
2. Picture books by Christian authors have character, Bible, and faith message. As I said in the preschool lists, I love using picture books to teach many things to my children—faith and Bible, counting, alphabet, science, history/geography, relationships, character, and more. Go for the lengthier ones after age six or so—and don’t forget to discuss them after reading! The books and sources below include Bible story books, catechism type books, character, and more!
a. Christianbooks.com has a search engine that allows you to look for books under age groups, gender, theme, audience, etc. You can plug in your child’s age, and a list of books appropriate for that age will pop up! Check it out at https://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?event=EBRN&N=1119138+5401+200006+4294967144&Ne=200600&Nso=1&Nu=product%2Eendeca%5Frollup&Ns=product%2Enumber%5Fsold
b. See other Max Lucado picture books: https://www.christianbook.com/a-hat-for-ivan-board-book/max-lucado/9781581346565/pd/46565/1071101320?item_code=WW&netp_id=348434&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr
c. “Kidderminster Tales” by Christopher Lane –these might be out of print, so snatch them up used ASAP! All of my children have loved these lengthy picture books that retell some of Jesus’ parables in Kidderminster with animals. They truly are extremely clever and well-done. https://www.amazon.com/Nicholas-Neighbors-Kidderminster-Kingdom-Tales/dp/0896938433/ref=pd_sim_b_1
d. “All is Well” by Frank Peretti—Peretti for young children? Yep! No angel and demon battles here, but this book tells about a family who fell on hard times and their response to that. Heartwarming. https://www.frankperetti.com/product/234.htm?parentid=1371
e. R.C. Sproul picture books are awesome at explaining difficult concepts, like forgiveness through Christ, and more. Here are two that are outstanding for this age group:
i. “The Priest with Dirty Clothes” by R.C. Sproul https://www.amazon.com/Priest-Dirty-Clothes-Timeless-Forgiveness/dp/0849914558
ii. “The King Without a Shadow” by R.C. Sproul https://www.christianbook.com/the-king-without-a-shadow/r-c-sproul/9780875527000/pd/227000?event=CFN
3. Creation science materials—
a. Answers in Genesis!
https://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/catalog/57-Years-Old,184.aspx
b. “In the Days of Noah” by Gloria Clanin https://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/In-the-Days-of-Noah,4339,185.aspx
c. “The Bible Discovery Collection Bible Animals”—this is the perfect age to read animal creation science books!– by Bruce Barton, James Galvin, Michael Kendrick, Daryl Lucas, David Veerman, Neil Wilson (looks out of print, but some on Amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Animals-Discovery-Collection/dp/084231038X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273891237&sr=1-3
d. “Dinosaurs and the Bible”—also the perfect age to read dinosaur creation science books!– by David Unfred https://www.amazon.com/Dinosaurs-Bible-David-W-Unfred/dp/0910311706
e. Answers in Genesis also has an amazing search engine that lets you search by age group. This is especially helpful in choosing creation science books because you do not want to get one with too much text for a four year old but too little text for a ten year old. The upper end of today’s age group’s suggestions can be found here https://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/catalog/811-Years-Old,185.aspx
4. Character—at this age, we continue with many of the character book listed in the upper level of the three to six year old group. We also do chapter books with stories of children doing the right thing! (More on chapter books in days to come.) However, my favorite character stories to read aloud are the “old fashioned” ones you have probably seen in doctor’s offices and other waiting rooms—“Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories.” (I actually use these from age three or four to twelve, but I forgot to put it on the list the other day!) ALL of my kids love these—and my olders still leaf through them when they see any of them lying around the house when they are visiting. They might seem pricey, but there are five hardcover books in the set. (You can probably get them much cheaper and possibly even one at a time used on ebay or other resale spots.) https://www.christianbook.com/uncle-arthurs-bedtime-stories/9780828010207/pd/545333
So many memories….
by Donna | May 18, 2010
Welcome to Part II (out of II) of my listings for suggested books for “devotional” type of read alouds for little ones. We are specifically looking at the upper end of ages three to six today (yesterday we looked at the lower end of that age group). Some of the ones listed below, however, I still use with my eleven year old (and, in the case of Character Sketches, I still use with my seventeen and fifteen year olds!!!).
If you are not currently doing any type of devotional reading with your little ones, just pick a book or two from today or yesterday’s list—and do it! You can get these at the library, from the links below, or from your local Christian bookstore. At this age, you only need five to ten minutes a day to start instilling faith-building, potentially-life-long habits in your children—and help them start learning God’s Word and God’s ways early.
1. Story Bibles and story Bible sets
a. “The Picture Bible” by David C Cook—after the “Me Too” Bible stories, “The Early Reader’s Bible,” “The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes,” and “My Bible Friends,” we used this wonderful, comic-book-style Bible. Ray read this whole Bible aloud to each child when he or she was around age four. (Actually, Ray found this in a Christian bookstore thirty years ago just after we were born again as young adults. He got it and read it through himself as he said it helped him know “Bible talk” better when he knew very little about the Bible and many Bible stories. So we’ve had copies of this Bible for thirty years in our home!) https://www.amazon.com/Picture-Bible-Story-Book-Ed/dp/1555139906
b. Family Bible Library—I reviewed this book earlier in the year. This is a wonderful complete ten volume set of Bible stories. Read the review in full at the link below. If you have children eight and under, I highly recommend you find this set used, buy it, and use it every day. (That’s what we did! I read it to te kids when they turned four (sort of after Ray did “The Picture Bible”), then when each child became a fluent reader, between nine and eleven or so, he or she read the entire set to himself (or aloud to a little sibling). https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/02/day-fifty-nine-think-of-yourself-as.html
2. “Catechism” Type of Books—I love using the books listed below with my young children as they answer those questions that kids those ages often ask, “How can there be three in one?” “Where is heaven?” “Why did Jesus die?” “What is sin?” etc. You are never too young to start learning basic Bible doctrine!
a.”Big Truths for Little Kids: Teaching Your Kids to Live for God” by Susan Hunt: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1581341067/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_2?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0802840353&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=14KZJYBNXBQPPMWNYZ5Q
b. “My ABC Bible Verses: Hiding God’s Word in Little Hearts” by Susan Hunt and Evette Banek– https://www.amazon.com/My-ABC-Bible-Verses-Hiding/dp/1581340052/ref=pd_sim_b_4#reader_1581340052
c. “Leading Little Ones to God” by Margaret Schoolland—help your little one think rightly about God from the beginning—“catechism for preschoolers”: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802851207/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0802840353&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=14KZJYBNXBQPPMWNYZ5Q
3. Picture books by Christian authors have character, Bible, and faith messages—I love using picture books to teach many things to my children—faith and Bible, counting, alphabet, science, history/geography, relationships, character, and more. I will list a few picture books below, but most Christian bookstores have at least a small selection of picture books that teach faith, character, biblical principles, etc. Stories, of course, are outstanding teaching vehicles, as evidenced by the fact that Jesus taught so much using stories.
a. “A Hat for Ivan” by Max Lucado: https://www.christianbook.com/a-hat-for-ivan-board-book/max-lucado/9781581346565/pd/46565/1071101320?item_code=WW&netp_id=348434&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr
b. “Tale of Three Trees” by Angela Hunt https://www.christianbook.com/the-tale-of-three-trees/angela-hunt/9780745917436/pd/19014/1069491512?item_code=WW&netp_id=155456&event=ESRCN&view=details
c. “In Case You Ever Wonder”: https://www.christianbook.com/just-case-ever-wonder-board-book/max-lucado/9780849975097/pd/75093?item_code=WW&netp_id=196760&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr
d. See other Max Lucado picture books: https://www.christianbook.com/a-hat-for-ivan-board-book/max-lucado/9781581346565/pd/46565/1071101320?item_code=WW&netp_id=348434&event=ESRCN&view=details#curr
e. “My Heart, Christ’s Home Retold for Children” by Robert Boyd Munger—one of my personal favorites!!! https://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=3395
4. Creation science materials—If I had $500 to spend on everything I could use to train my preschoolers in faith, I would purchase the “Family Bible Library” and many, many picture books from Answers in Genesis. Children are inundated from earliest ages with the falsehoods of “millions of years,” etc.—we must counteract that information found in movies (even some of our favorite animated ones have references to it!), music, cartoons, museums, zoos, etc. with the truth. Picture books from Answers in Genesis can help you do that: https://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/catalog/57-Years-Old,184.aspx
(Btw, if I had a little over $1,000, I would do the above, then get NEST dvd’s and Your Story Hour audios. )
We’ll move on to seven to ten year olds’ resources tomorrow! Happy shopping…and reading. Just do it!!
by Donna | May 17, 2010
Children ages two or three to six do not need long read alouds, but you will want to start early in reading aloud to your children to build a love and attention span for it.
The books and materials I am going to list today and tomorrow are those that are especially appropriate for a devotional type of situation (“morning reading” at the Reishes). You will need to experiment with your children and the various “levels” of books. Some children as early as three years old can sit for lengthy picture books while others will only want a “quick” type of read aloud time.
The books are sort of listed by age range—youngest to oldest. Thus, the first ones listed are even appropriate for two to four year olds. I am making a few notations for the items, as well as listing authors and links.
Additionally, I am grouping them according to Bible story books, sets, picture books, prayer books, etc. Most of them are available at your library—though I admit that I own all of them (after twenty-seven years of parenting!) and recommend that you invest in a few favorites so that you can use those over and over. (Yes, I drive a $450 van, but have a library worth thousands of dollars—vehicles aren’t that important to me, but books (especially faith-teaching ones) are!)
Being the owner of a small press publishing company/small vendor of materials ourselves, I like to purchase books from small companies (especially family-owned ones) whenever possible. However, they (and we!) cannot provide all of the bells and whistles that large ones, such as Amazon, can provide. The links given for many of the materials are links to larger providers because these companies can provide the “look inside” feature, which I find especially helpful in purchasing picture books since you can actually look at a few pages and check out the text size, pictures, amount of text on each page, etc. However, if you know of a small vendor who carries these books, I encourage you to purchase from them!
Also, most of these products are available from your library. Even if you are holding these (or checking these out) from your library, you can go to one of the seller’s sites and check out the guts to see if it is appropriate for your child’s level before holding it from your library.
1. Very young Bible story books and Bibles:
a. The felt books and felt playsets continue to be good for this age group; my earlier review of this: https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-thirty-one-start-young-with-bible.html
b. “Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes” (my earlier review of this is here): https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-thirty-two-start-young-with-bible.html
c. One of my favorites for two to three year olds—a set of five hardcover, fully illustrated: “My Bible Friends”: https://www.thebiblestory.com/mbf/index.php
d. One of the few early Bibles that are appropriate for reading aloud to your toddlers and having your new reader use as a reader to practice his decoding skills: “Beginner’s Bible”: https://www.beginnersbible.com/
e. Very young Bible story books—one story per book; hardcover: The “Me Too” books– https://www.clcbookshops.com/marilyn-lashbrook_a573.html
2. Prayers, Hymns, and Rhymes:
a. “Prayers for the Very Young Child” by Donald S. Robert (out of print, but some used ones here) https://www.abebooks.com/search/isbn/0570040515
b. “My First Hymnal”—I did this one every day for years and years with my toddlers and young preschoolers: https://www.amazon.com/o/asin/0917143353/mockerybird/ref=nosim
c. “Bible Time Nursery Rhyme”—my review is here: https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-thirty-one-start-young-with-bible.html
3. Character Building Books and Stories:
a. “Child’s Book of Character Building: Growing Up in God’s World”—one of the first character teaching tools we had, and we used these for years. (Now our daughter Cami, twenty years later, uses these same books (our copies!) for her disability ministry to adults with cognitive disabilities)– by Ron and Rebekah Coriell- https://www.amazon.com/Childs-Book-Character-Building-Growing/dp/0800754948/ref=pd_sim_b_2#reader_0800754948
c. “God’s Wisdom for Little Girls” by Jim and Elizabeth George: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Wisdom-Little-Girls-Proverbs/dp/0736904271/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
d. “Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories” by Arthur Maxwell—okay, I have used these for twenty-seven years—and just read aloud from them with Jakie (age eleven) last week! ‘nough said! https://www.uncle-arthurs.com/
4. Creation books—many of the creation picture books are more appropriate for ages six through ten or so; however, many vendors have the “look inside” option as described above.
a. “Daddy Is There Really a God?” by John Morris https://www.christianbook.com/daddy-is-there-really-a-god/john-morris/9780890511886/pd/11888
b. “Noah’s Ark, Noah’s Flood” by John Morris https://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Noahs-Ark-Noahs-Flood,4378,184.aspx
More preschool “devotional” items tomorrow—including “older” Bible stories, creation products, and “catechism” type items!
b. “God’s Wisdom for Little Boys” by Jim and Elizabeth George: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0736908242/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0802840353&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=14KZJYBNXBQPPMWNYZ5Q
by Donna | May 13, 2010
Morning reading—for us, this is like our “school devotional extended.” We have this morning reading time after morning routines and morning chores—three or four days a week (“more often than not”). Because it is devotional and school, I like to do a variety of things:
1. Character reading—this usually involves Bible too (see below for Character Sketches)
2. Chapter books—we are going through a series of American history biographies—we have done biographies in morning reading for twenty-five years!!!
3. Creation science—we always read from Answers in Genesis and other materials together
4. Bible or Bible stories (depending on ages, etc.)
5. Poetry—we added this two years ago, and I love it!
6. Nature devotional—been doing these for years and years
7. Literature excerpts—I assign whole books to the boys (one chapter book per week unless they are lengthy, in which case, they may read the same book over a two week period), but I like doing excerpts and shortened ones with them aloud
8. Character stories—we have done a variety of these—right now we are doing one my one of my favorite Christmas story authors (Wheeler, see below)
Below are the current titles we are using, along with their authors and links. The books listed are ones I do now with my boys, ages 11, 15, and 17. I am capitalizing the titles because I cannot get the FB blog to underline or italicize consistently—not trying to “yell” at you!
1. Character studies—reading about godly character of Bible people and how character qualities are shown in the lives of animals—CHARACTER SKETCHES, Volume III—published by Institute in Basic Life Principles (one semester book) https://tfths.com/character.php
2. Short literature excerpts, an outstanding way to introduce classic literature to kids ages eight to fourteen (or even older—Jonathan and I love them!)—CLASSICS TO READ ALOUD TO YOUR CHILDREN—compiled by William F. Russell (one semester book) https://www.amazon.com/Classics-Read-Aloud-Your-Children/dp/0517587157
3. Nature devotional—IN HIS HANDS—A NATURE DEVOTIONAL-—by James and Priscilla Tucker (year long book)—out of print—if your kids like animals, nature, and trivia, I recommend you try to get this book used!
4. Bible “story” book for older students and adults (followed by listening to the portion covered in here on audio cd from the regular Bible)—THE STORY OF STORIES—THE BIBLE IN NARRATIVE FORM –by Karen C. Hinckley (one semester book) https://www.amazon.com/Story-Stories-Astounding-Adventures-Revelation/dp/0891096701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273634406&sr=1-1
5. Creation science book—ASTONOMY AND THE BIBLE: QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS by Donald B DeYoung (one semester book) (sample chapters at https://www.answersingenesis.org/Docs/399.asp ) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080106225X/ref=cm_rdp_product
6. Biography—MERIWETHER LEWIS: EXPLORER by Janet and Geoff Benge (one month book) (contains links to other books in the Heroes of History series) https://www.christianbook.com/heroes-history-meriwether-lewis-edge-map/janet-benge/9781883002800/pd/00281X
7. Christian poetry (for older children and adults)—THE ONE YEAR BOOK OF POETRY—published by Tyndale (one year book) https://www.tyndale.com/X_Products/details.php?isbn=978-0-8423-3712-0
8. Short Christian and character stories for all ages (older children and adults primarily)—GREAT STORIES REMEMBERED by Joe Wheeler (might be out of print, but still has sellers on amazon) https://www.amazon.com/Great-Stories-Remembered/dp/1561794597
Tomorrow, I will post some suggestions for “morning reading” or “devotional reading” for four to ten year olds.
by Donna | May 13, 2010
“Right after lunch Josiah, Kara, and I picked out our stories for story time. We snuggled on the couch with Mommy and read them. I was so happy ‘coz it was my day, and I got to pick two stories today. I picked Curious George and a book about astronauts. Story time is my favorite time of the day.”
“Jonathan’s Journal”
Read Aloud Tips (continued)
6. Consider having an ongoing chapter book as part of your story time. At the end of story time, I almost always read a chapter or two out of a chapter book. By that time, the youngest listeners were often drifting off to sleep, so if they were not interested in the chapter book, they just started their naps. However, the older preschooler and elementary child was still alert and awake. (We call this the “bus stop approach” to teaching little kids—stay with us and we’ll introduce that concept more fully in the future.) If your little is “almost ready” for chapter books, but not quite, you can start the process by choosing some longer picture books (i.e. instead of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” or “Curious George,” read “Kidderminster Tales” or picture books of “Black Beauty” or James Herriot stories for children (reviews forthcoming). Then after he is used to listening to longer picture books, choose short chapter books at first, such as “Three Cousins Detective,” “Boxcar Children,” or “American Girl Books.” These often have forty to eighty pages, so they are good introductions to chapter books for preschoolers. (Some of these shorter chapter books also have an occasional picture; this might help bridge the gap from picture books to chapter books.)
7. Use book and cd sets from the library to substitute for you when needed. My older kids used book and tape sets (Joshua’s favorites when he was three to six were these old “Stories That Live” Bible story books with accompanying cassettes.) However, Josiah and Jacob (our last two children) have used picture book and cd sets more than any of the others. With several children and the older kids’ needs and activities, story time has taken a drastic change in our home. I no longer stay home all the time; I no longer have one to two hours every afternoon to read; and, unfortunately, I no longer get to take naps! To offset my reduced story time, I have utilized book and cd sets for the younger children. Since we homeschool and our children have daily independent lists, the boys had “listen to book and cd set” on their list most days when they were younger (and Jakie still often does, though he is quickly outgrowing them). These sets are available in zip style bags at libraries and are really a great help for busy moms—if your children get in the habit of doing them. Like every other “quiet” or “less high-tech” activity, listening to book and cd sets, talking books, radio dramas, etc. is a learned art. It will probably not come naturally to children today. But, just like brushing his teeth and making his bed, it can become part of his daily routine if it is insisted upon by Mom and followed through on. (Book and cd sets and/or audio books are especially good for kids who are outgrowing naps to do while youngers sleep.)
8. Make story time a privilege. As with the toddler joining your story time, this special event should be a privilege for every child—and privileges are earned and are much different than rights (which should be greatly reduced in the lives of children—yes, our children have rights to safety, nourishment, love, etc. but the sense of entitlement that we give our children for everything causes a very me-focused approach to life that is inconsistent with genuine Christianity, which is the opposite of this “myopic” way of life). Our kids knew the rules for story time, and I seldom had problems with bad behavior during it. Why? Simply because they wanted Mom to read to them! The repercussion for not sitting still, not being kind to those around you, being loud, complaining, etc. during story time was no story time that day, period. As my husband has always reminded me: “Our children will behave just the way we want them to” (i.e. the way we allow them to)—annoying saying huh? But true.
9. Try to have a consistent story time. If you can have a set time, like right after lunch every afternoon you are home or right before bed three evenings a week, etc., it will make it more routine and will cause the children to look forward to it. Consistent story time (or consistent anything) causes children to have order and peace—and provides a small framework of accountability for Mom too.
10. Use story time for Bible and/or character training. In addition to an ongoing chapter book, I always had a Bible story book and/or a character book that we read through a little each story time. This gave me another opportunity to teach Bible stories and character lessons. (Reviews will follow for some suggestions for these over the next few days.)
Reviews, suggestions, and links coming up! Thanks for joining us.
*For the complete story of “Jonathan’s Journal, follow this link: https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/03/day-seventy-eight-introducing-jonathans.ht
by Donna | May 12, 2010
“Right after lunch Josiah, Kara, and I picked out our stories for story time. We snuggled on the couch with Mommy and read them. I was so happy ‘coz it was my day, and I got to pick two stories today. I picked Curious George and a book about astronauts. Story time is my favorite time of the day.”
“Jonathan’s Journal” *
Read Aloud Tips
1. Make books a big part of your life from the beginning! Our kids knew that books were important to us. It isn’t uncommon for us to have forty to fifty books and talking books under our tree on Christmas morning. When our kids were babies and toddlers, they had little baskets with their baby books in them. These were their book baskets—and putting their books in them after play time was one of their first chores!
2. Make reading aloud a big deal from the beginning. As I said in some earlier posts, I started having a story time with our babies when they were several months old and were being weaned from one of their nursings. I would replace that afternoon feeding (after the baby had eaten food for lunch and had milk out of a sipper cup) with a story time. It was short—at first only two to four minutes—but it became an integral part of baby’s schedule.
3. Make joining into “older kids’ reading” a big deal—and a privilege that is earned. Once our toddlers became preschoolers, they got to join our regular “before nap” story time. This took the place of their short story time with Mom alone. We made a huge affair of the little joining us. The other kids were always so excited to have the toddler come into our snuggle and read time! However, if the toddler didn’t lie still and be quiet, he got taken to his crib early and missed the rest of story time. The toddler soon learned that joining regular afternoon story time was a privilege that was to be earned, not just something that he got to do at a certain age or time.
4. Let children choose story time books too. If you have enough time to really do a lengthy story time, go for it. I had long story times with my preschoolers and elementary children, so everybody got to pick one story, and the person who was “it” that day (see post two days ago) got to choose two stories. I had library books on a library shelf, then, of course, our huge collection of books to choose from. Choosing a story or two each day was really exciting for the kids. Sometimes they would talk about it or ponder it all day long!
5. You choose stories too. Kids will often pick the same books over and over again, so I always chose a couple or a few (depending on the length of the books that day) to read each day too. The children often found new favorites through my choosing of books—and oftentimes they were books that they maybe would not have picked themselves, etc. Sometimes I would choose stories that went along with what we were studying in homeschool (i.e. “You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Pioneer” when we were doing American History or “Hiawatha” when we were doing poetry, etc.). Other times I would choose something similar to what they were picking or by the same author, etc.
Continued……more reading tips coming—including suggestions and reviews!
*For the complete story of “Jonathan’s Journal, follow this link: https://positiveparenting3-6-5.blogspot.com/2010/03/day-seventy-eight-introducing-jonathans.html
