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Standing at our children’s sports practice, a friend complained about the amount of homework her child has each night. “And she’s supposed to read, too, but that never happens.” With the demands of school and extracurriculars, parents dread the infamous “reading log” that comes home in their child’s homework folder. Because reading doesn’t produce a written product to be graded, it’s the first to get cut from a homework list.
However, I make the argument to parents that reading is never “homework.” Sure, teachers assign reading because they want students to know the importance of it, and they know that there’s a better chance of them reading if it’s written in an agenda under “homework” and they send home a reading log. But reading is better compared to brushing our teeth than it is to doing homework. It’s a habit that must be developed for our health and well-being. As I say often, we read because we’re human beings and we’re alive.
Most parents would not dispute the research that supports the benefits of children being read to and reading themselves. Reading is one of the best predictors of future school success. Its biggest contribution to a child’s mind is the vocabulary acquisition he or she gains. There’s also the knowledge books, both narrative and expository, give children. Finally, books allow the mind to slowdown in this busy world we live in.
These benefits, however, do not help a parent who gets home at 5:00 and has to help with their child with homework along with getting dinner on the table and the kids in bed by eight. So how can we fit reading homework into our daily lives so it’s no longer a check on our homework list? Here are five ways.
Limit Screen Time
It’s amazing how much we can get done when screens are not dominating our time, not to mention the research that shows how it’s hurting our children. There are many ways to limit screen time.
- Limit television, video games, and other screens to only weekends.
- Do not allow children to use electronics before bed.
- Only allow screens in rooms of the house other than the children’s rooms
I know what you might be thinking … “But how will I have any downtime or get anything done?” If limiting screen time is new for your family, there’s no doubt it will be an adjustment. But just like any new habit, after a while, it will become normal. You’ll see your children start to use their imaginations, play outside, use toys they don’t normally use, and READ!
Take Books with You Everywhere
There are pockets of time hidden within our day that we’re not even aware of. The secret is to use these hidden moments to read and to do that you have to be prepared with BOOKS! In your car, have a basket full of books and magazines. Have your child keep a book in her book bag at all times. Keep a few books for your children in your purse. Finally, have a basket of books in each room of your house. This may seem like overload, but if books are easily accessible, as accessible as screens are, then our kids are more likely to reach for them.
Then, look for those hidden pockets of time when your child is waiting:
- at siblings’ extracurricular activities
- for extracurriculars to start
- in waiting rooms at appointments
- for time to leave in the morning
Read to Your Child Regardless of His or Her Age
We have the idea that we only read to children until they can read by themselves. There are benefits to reading to children even into their middle and high school years if they’ll let you. When children hear a proficient reader, they learn how to read fluently with prosody. Reading with your child is often a relaxing time that creates comforting memories for both of you. If your child struggles in reading or struggles to complete reading longer texts, sharing the reading by alternating reading pages or chapters can keep your child motivated and dispel discouragement.
Here are some good times to read to your child:
- at bedtime
- while your child is eating a snack
- while waiting for an appointment
- anchored to different parts of the daily schedule (This is especially helpful for younger kids. Anchor reading aloud to before or after naptimes, mealtimes, bathtimes, etc.)
Listen to Lots of Audio Books
Audiobooks are a hidden gem for growing strong readers. Now almost any book you can think of is available as an audiobook. And there are different subscription services such as Audible and Scribd where you can access them. My favorite is Scribd. Unlike Audible, you don’t buy the books with Scribd. You borrow or rent them like you would using your music subscription.
Audiobooks are invaluable for middle and high school students, too. These students can alternate listening and reading chapters of longer texts such as novels and classic literature. Many times students’ listening comprehension is higher than their reading comprehension. So listening to the books along with reading them helps with comprehension. It might make them more enjoyable, too.
We love to listen to audio books:
- on trips
- driving to and from school
- while coloring, putting together a puzzle or playing something quietly like legos
The hope is that reading homework no longer feels like “homework”, but instead, it’s a regular part of your child’s daily routine. With that said, for struggling readers, the effort it takes to read makes it feel like a chore regardless. The suggestions above will help to not only make reading a natural part of the day but to also make it less stressful. You and your child have this! You can do it!
