Parents: make reading with your child FUN!!!

One of the writers and storytellers I most admire is Australian author and University Professor:
Mem Fox.  She is an internationally known literacy expert, and not only is she one smart cookie, but her books are wonderful, loved by children and adults alike!!! 

My introduction to Mem was when my children were toddlers and I discovered one of her books called: "Time For Bed".  Such a lovely, lovely story book! Immediately I adored this book, but even better yet, my children did too,  and it became one of those books that actually kind of drives you crazy because you kids want to read it over and over again (until you almost want to bonk your head against a wall).

The wording on each page rhymes and children can chime in easily to help you end each sentence.   They feel so proud that they are reading the book! 

The illustrations by Jane Dyer are strikingly beautiful!!  You could spend a minute or two looking at each page.  Many of a typical child's  favourite animals are included in this book: puppies, lambs, mice, chicks, horses, etc.

Enjoy reading this book at home today with your children.  The book comes in various styles, hard cover, board book, padded cover, etc, although each style is still reasonably priced and a fantastic investment.

As well as this book, there are many other wonderful books written by Mem Fox.  We have a number of them in our library at St. Monica school.  Look for: Counting Goats, Sleepy Bears, Whoever You Are, Possum Magic, Wilfrid Gordon Mcdonald Partridge, Tough Boris

But before your read with your child, have a quick look at Mem's "Ten Read Aloud Commandments" listed below.

Mem Fox’s Ten Read Aloud Commandments

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud.
2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read.
3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.
4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.
5. Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time.
6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.
7. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short.
8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child’s name and yours, remembering that it’s never work, it’s always a fabulous game.
9. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books.
10. Please read aloud every day, mums and dads, because you just love being with your child, not because it’s the right thing to do.

 

Mem Fox


If you want to learn more about helping your child learn to read and enjoy it at the same time, read Mem's book: "Reading Magic - Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever"  and checkout her Website by clicking: here.