They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

JeanneSager — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:45:27 GMT

Just a note: this post isn't about reading TO your kids. It's about reading IN FRONT OF your kids. The study dealt with parents reading . . . by themselves, whether for work or pleasure. I have never said parents shouldn't take time to read to their kids. In fact, that's one of those important activities that keeps me too busy to get my personal reading in when my daughter is still awake. I'd pick reading her a bedtime story over curling up with my own novel any day.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Treespeed — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:33:16 GMT

Who knew the TV watchers were so defensive? Or should I say the poor overworked parents who barely have time to breathe, let alone read to their kids. I never knew I was being so elitist by taking my kid to the library to get free books, reading to her, and having her be excited about reading. How incredibly insensitive of me.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Laura — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:26:35 GMT

Lenny, methinks you have a clean house because NOBODY'S HOME ALL DAY. Maybe?

I'd rather work (dishes, laundry) while my children are awake so that when they go to bed, I can actually relax. And read.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

lenny — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:01:12 GMT

My dh and I both work full time, have a clean house (except for my bathroom)a very active 2 yr old and I still have time to read every day. It's what I do. I know many people that read every day that have small children and jobs and lives outside their homes. I watch tv, my son watches tv, we read though too. After dinner, I sit and read, my husband watched the news and kiddo plays with toys, colors, or runs around chasing the dogs. Then he goes to bed and we do the dinner dishes, laundry and then turn on Family Guy. There's plenty of time.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Mark Hamilton — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:57:14 GMT

“The best preparation for learning to read is a language rich environment. This environment is created when you sing, talk and read to your child beginning in infancy” Professor David Elkind

Children need to learn a love of reading, and from that they are more likely to want to read. If a parent reads them regularly they are more likely to associate books with an interesting and exciting world.

Professor David Elkind wrote an interesting article on this subject at:

www.justaskbaby.com/.../teaching-babies-to-read

Mark

Chief Baby

Justaskbaby.com

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

kimora — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:08:47 GMT

It's not the reading that's elitest. It's the assumption that anybody who doesn't do it while their kids are awake is slumped in front of the television. Maybe, they have more kids than you do, or less help, or work longer hours or have more demanding kids. The constant, well I do it, and of course everybody is exactly like me or they are lazy TV mainling morons DOES get a little wearing on one's nerves, and I actually like this blog.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Manjari — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:39:50 GMT

My twins are 2 years old, and they are certainly very time consuming. I still read in front of them every day if I can. There are times when they play independently, and I remind myself to open up a book instead of opening up my laptop. I don't see this as ignoring them. I think it's good for them to play without my constant interaction. I don't know if I would be able to do read so regularly in front of them if I worked full time, because the evening dinner/bath/bed thing is kind of hectic. I think, though, that reading in front of kids is really important. They always notice what we choose to do.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Knitty — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:33:52 GMT

How sad is it that READING is now considered an elitist activity? I weep for our future.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

tired of the elitists on this site — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:57:44 GMT

our children love reading but i never have time to read in front of them much less watch TV... i don't know many parents who can do either while their small children are awake... so anyone who puts down others that say so must be very good at ignoring a toddler to get immersed in a book and i would have to say i'm not really into that type of parenting...

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Treespeed — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:41:09 GMT

I'm with Lenny and I wonder when people say they don't have time to read how much time do they spend watching TV? But this one seems to fall under the "duh" research heading. Big surprise, kids emulate their parents, their eating habits, drinking habits, exercise habits, and religion. Is it really a big shock that most kids don't fall for "do as I say, not as I do" parenting? Anyways, it seems to have worked with our 2.75 year old who begs to go to the library and picks out her own books.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

lenny — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:59:07 GMT

I read instead of watching tv. There, fifty minutes.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Liz — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:26:15 GMT

When I was in elementary school, my mom and I would get up about 20 mins early every morning to read books that we had picked out to read together just for fun -- not assigned by school.

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

That Neil Guy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:12:53 GMT

Woo hoo! Now I have something to tell my wife next time she gives me the eye for reading a book at the breakfast table, which I do almost every day. Hooray for me!

re: They Say: Boys Read if Dad Does

Laura — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:40:58 GMT

I would LOVE to be able to read for 50 minutes a day while my kids are awake! But, what?! How is this possible? My boys are 2 1/2 and 1, so the only reading I do while they are awake is reading recipes. Maybe in a few years...?