Shouldn’t parents naturally know how to read to their children?
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I signed up for Julie Fowlkes’ reading workshop, my husband asked me, “ Why would you need to take a course on reading? Shouldn’t parents naturally know how to read to their children?”. Of course, anyone who reads can read to a child, but how do you make the story come alive for that child? How do you spark their interest in reading, and more importantly, learning?
I have a 4-year-old son, Patito and a 2-year-old daughter, Isabella. Before Julie’s workshop, reading was more a chore, something that should be done before bed. We were often tired and anxious to put the kids down so that we can have our own free time. Sometimes I would speed read through the book. My husband, Patrick employed a slow monotone to make Patito sleepy. No wonder the kids had absolutely no interest.
I’ve forgotten how much fun it is to be read to. Julie’s advice was invaluable, how to add suspense and play with the words. Straight away I saw a significant change in my kids. Patito and Isabella ask me to read to them ALL the time. They would say, “no Papa, Mama read!”. Patrick was amazed by what he saw, and he has changed the way he reads completely. Mummy and Daddy read differently and that is important to them too. It has become such a special time for all of us.
In Hong Kong, we’re often so fixated on early education for our kids, putting them in one class after another, that we forget one most important tool, READING! Patito knows more vehicle and dinosaur names than I do. From Geography, to History, to Biology, not just them, I was learning so much too. As my husband reads only in English to them, and I in Chinese, my Chinese has improved tremendously. Even the morning newspaper can be interesting. “Look, there was a protest in Central”, “what is a protest Papa?”
My biggest shock of all was when he started reading some of the words back to me. First he just remembered the title, and then he started reading and pointing the same characters out in different stories. I realized what a remarkable tool reading really is.
So, Back to my husband’s question, shouldn’t parents naturally know how to read to their children? I think yes, anyone who can read will be able to read to his or her child, but reading can be boring or captivating. For me, it is no longer a chore. The secret to sparking their interest is to engage them and enjoy what you read. It has become such a joy, a precious time where we snuggle up close and share a special experience together. If you love it they will love it too. I love the book READING MAGIC by Mem Fox. If you have time, I highly recommend it. It is about just that, Reading Magic.
My deepest thanks to Julie Fowlkes, for showing me what passionate reading is and for starting me off on this wonderful discovery.
