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3 ways to talk to your kids about books

home / reading / comprehension / connecting / 3 ways to talk to your kids about books
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read and talk with your kidsI remember a time, not so long ago, when Maddy, Owen, and Cora would talk to me for (what seemed to be) hours upon end about things. Just anything.ย  Books, ideas, dolls, bugs, colors, toys, you name it.

And some days they still do.ย  Some days, they’re hit with something and they’ll go on and on and on and on about. . .ย  you name it.ย  Anything.ย  Just like the old days.

But now, as they get older, as they want more playdates with buddies (which I know are important), more sports and classes (also important), more time with electronics (also important, in smaller doses), and more time to themselves (also very important), the time we spend actually talking about things seems to be waning.

Which makes me nervous.

I know that it’s more important than ever for me to keep the lines of communication open for Maddy, Owen, and Cora from here on out.ย  I also know that if I continue to play a role in their education now–their learning, reading, homework, and games–that it will be easier for me to do so down the road, when school gets more challenging and when they may really need support.

Getting most kids to talk about things that genuinely interest them is easy–or easier than getting them to talk about less interesting things, perhaps–but getting kids to talk about other things, like books they’re reading–isn’t always so easy.

So after some considerable thought and research on the topic, I’ve come up with three ways that any parent can use to get their children to talk to them about the books they’re reading.ย  They’re things that I’ve used with my kids for some time, and they’re things that should give you a foot in the door.

Here’s the skinny. . .

  • 3 Ways to Talk to Your Kids About Books:ย  We want our kids to read. And we want them to choose books that are a good fit for their abilities.ย  And if we can talk to our kiddos about the books they read, it’s a total win-win.

Take a look:

 

And that’s it. . . just three simple ways to get your kids to talk to you about what they’re reading.ย  Three ways that will (hopefully) open the door for more regular conversation between you and your children about books and three ways for your children to see that you recognize the importance of their reading and you want to learn more.

When kids talk about what they read, they’re more likely to remember what they read, to continue reading, and to think more deeply about the topic. So go ahead, start the conversation!

And if you have another great way of getting kids to talk about the books they’re reading, share it in the comments!ย  Want more read-aloudย  learning ideas, be sure to check out my other posts on Learning During Read-Alouds.

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About amy mascott

teacher, mother, dreamer. lover of literacy, fun learning, good food, and three crazy-cool kids. finder of four-leaf clovers | dc metro ยท http://about.me/amymascott
tweet with me: @teachmama

Previous Post: « magic triangles: hands-on math game
Next Post: back-to-school shopping: get the kids involved »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carolyn Wilhelm

    August 10, 2012 at 3:30 pm

    Pinned and shared on other social media sites as well, fabulous! Carolyn

    Reply
  2. Brandy

    August 10, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    I love your videos! Each one is so informative and easy to implement. However, it’s that pure happiness at the end of each one that gets me every time. So sweet!

    Reply
    • amy

      August 11, 2012 at 11:13 am

      HA! THank you, Brandy!! I love that part, too!!

      Reply
  3. Traci

    August 11, 2012 at 4:20 am

    Love your tips! As a parent and teacher myself, it is great to get fresh input and use these ideas not only with my own son but also with the students in my class. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • amy

      August 11, 2012 at 11:13 am

      thanks so much, Traci!! Totally appreciate your kind words and you taking the time to give me this feedback!!

      Reply
  4. maybeegreen

    August 14, 2012 at 10:34 am

    Thank you ! It’s what I was looking for ! I put a link on my blog !

    Reply
    • amy

      August 14, 2012 at 1:07 pm

      Cannot thank you enough, my friend! HUGE thanks!

      Reply
  5. jo

    August 16, 2012 at 7:33 am

    that was really useful – fresh ideas ! great ! thanks

    Reply
  6. Stacey

    April 10, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    Another idea is to connect them with the illustrator in the stories (that DO have illustrations) and note what other books that person has illustrated. Really amazing the way my daughter totally picks out the illustrators (I guess this is more for picture books for younger kids) but it did help launch great conversations and times at the library!

    Thanks for the reminder about continuing these literary discussions now that she’s older (8). Awesome 3 tips!

    Reply
    • amy mascott

      April 10, 2013 at 2:07 pm

      LOVE this idea, Stacey, and so glad you mentioned it! The illustrators are a HUGE part of books, and they are certainly worth talking about as well! THANK YOU!

      Reply

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