Ten minutes. That’s all we need to read aloud to our kids. Just ten minutes a day of reading aloud to our kids will make a huge difference.

I enjoy reading aloud to my son. It relaxes me. Unfortunately, some moms find it hard to read aloud to their kids. They can’t seem to find the time to do it. When they do find the time, they lack the patience to make the moment enjoyable. That’s sad.

What the use of reading aloud to kids when the atmosphere is not friendly? Kids will associate reading with the unfriendly atmosphere and that could get pretty traumatic for them.

Reading aloud should be fun. We, moms, should make sure that our kids enjoy the moment.

Quit Thinking Of The Benefits Of Reading Aloud

I understand why some moms find it difficult to read aloud to their kids. Considering the daily workload of moms, it’s not that easy to set aside quality time to read aloud. I should know because I’ve been there.

I tried everything to allot some quality time. Unfortunately, I would end up falling asleep while reading a book.

It took a lot for me to read aloud to my son and for a brief moment, I thought I was going to give up on it.

There was a nagging voice inside me that told me not to give up. If I did, I would be a horrible mom for not spending some time to read aloud to my son.  So, how could I not do it?

I was pressured by that nagging voice. It kept on reminding me of the benefits of reading aloud to my son and at the same time, kept on nagging me not to give up. I wanted to yell, “Stop!”

I thought to myself, “How could reading aloud be so stressful for a parent?”

Then I blocked the nagging voice in my head. I stopped thinking about the benefits of reading aloud. Suddenly, reading aloud became more relaxing for me.  It became easier for me to grab a book to read aloud to my son.

There was no more pressure for me to make it a learning experience for my son. I became more relaxed. I just read aloud a story to my son.  I stopped worrying if my son missed out a word or an event in the book.

I just went on to read aloud. I found that my son appreciated that manner of reading aloud more. He, too, was more relaxed.

Don’t Overdo It

Some parents get overly excited about the benefits of reading that they end up overdoing it. I was guilty of that as well.

I committed to reading aloud for an hour every single day. If reading aloud is good for my son, I should commit at least an hour a day to do it, right?

Well, I was wrong about that. In my case, I found it very hard to read aloud for an hour a day. It was doable for the first few days. Then it became too stressful and tiring. I was also having a hard time finding more books to read.

I was reading aloud too much information to my son to the point that he got bored. Another thing I realized was that there was no way I could let my son sit for an hour straight. As a five-year-old boy, his attention span is only good for about 25 minutes at the most.

Instead of boring my son to death, I resorted to reading aloud to him for just ten minutes a day. Yes, just ten minutes a day. It worked. Since that day on, it was a lot easier for me to read aloud to my son.

Reading aloud for ten minutes a day is backed up by the National Adult Literacy Agency.  According to their article, all we need is just ten minutes a day to read aloud to our kids. Those ten minutes will make a huge impact on our kid’s learning development.

With just ten minutes of reading aloud to them, they can learn new words, come with ideas based on the story, and predict what’s going to happen next. The short period can spark their curiosity to think.

Based on my experience, the best way to avoid overdoing the task of reading aloud is by committing to do it for just ten minutes a day.  It’s easier for both the parent and the child.

Keep It Fun And Simple

Parents are always trying to find ways and means to read aloud to their kids. I don’t blame them. What I have learned from finding the time and patience to read aloud to my son is to just keep it fun and simple.

If we prioritize the fun part of reading aloud, then everything else will follow.

When your child learns to read at an early age, it expands their vocabulary and opens up their love for learning. It helps build their confidence and vastly improves their learning abilities.

And based on my experience, having the right reading methodology when teaching your child learn to read makes a world of difference.

I should know as I made that mistake. 😢

In fact, you can read my story about my child’s struggle with reading here and how we were able to help my child become an advanced reader here. 😀🤗

The post How To Find The Time And Patience To Read Aloud appeared first on ChildLovesToLearn.com.

This article was contributed by my good friend Sandy Gallagher.

Kids are like sponges. They absorb information easily and mimic anything they want. Leave them in front of the television and they’ll eventually pick up the accent or the language of their favorite cartoon character.

Thanks to Dora and Handy Manny, kids as young as two years old can understand Spanish. So, it makes me wonder. If they can pick up information from the television that easily, can they also understand the words that they see in a book? The answer might surprise you.

The Actual Age When Kids Start To Read

In spite of all our attempts to expose our kids to books, they start to learn how to read before the age of 5 or 6. This information shocked me.

When my daughter turned three, she was already able to read sight words. At least, that was what I thought at that time.

When she was about three years, I would practice her every single day with flashcards of sight words. I figured; I didn’t have anything to lose by trying it. If my daughter could get used to seeing the words, it would register in her mind and she would eventually be able to read it, right?

So, I used a lot of flashcards and printed books to familiarize her with words. As early as two years old, she was able to say a couple of sight words from the flashcards. She was also able to retell the story that I was reading to her. She knew the characters pretty well.

At that point, I felt that my daughter was pretty advanced for her age. Wow, she could read a couple of words. I felt proud and secretly thought I had a bright kid in my hands.

She was not reading. She was just picking up information. Yes, there is a difference between the two.

It Takes A lot To Decode Printed Letters

Like any mom out there, I secretly feel that my daughter is smarter than most kids. Then I come across this research that takes me back to reality.

According to the said research, the neural connections in young kids are not yet developed. These neural connections are critical. They help decode the printed letters so that they could be combined mentally to form words.

I guess my daughter was just picking up words at that time. With my incessant coaching, which seemed like nagging at times, how could she not pick up a couple of words?

Picking up a couple of words is a lot different from reading. If there was one thing, I failed to check was that if she understood the words on the flashcards.

I was just too caught up with having her read the words that she ended up just mimicking the words because I would say them as well. Then she would associate the words on the flashcards. However, she wasn’t reading them.

Reading Readiness

The same research shared some great tips on reading readiness in toddlers. According to it, the key is indirect instruction. That was the first time I had ever heard of the term. However, it wasn’t exactly a new thing.

Indirect instruction is about getting our kids excited about books and printed words. Hence, it involves the introduction of printed books to our kids.

One of the best ways to do it is by reading to our kids. The earlier we start, the better. According to the research, we should start reading books to babies.

Babies enjoy the sight of pictures and labels in a printed book. As they get a little older, they expand their interest in rhyming books.

So, as parents, our job is to provide them books that will help them expand their interest and excitement in learning how to read.

My Take Away

As parents, we need to understand how toddlers can learn how to read. Based on my experience, I should also take it easy on my daughter.

I just got very excited when she started mimicking words that I thought I was doing a good job in teaching her how to read. The lesson I learned is to make reading more enjoyable.

Now that my daughter can recognize a word, I don’t bombard her with more words. I stop at that word and check if she understands it.

After coming across the term neural connections, I think it’s crucial for us, parents, to take some time to explain the meaning of words.

Since neural connections take some time to develop, we, parents, should not be limited to just having our young kids repeat a word from a printed book or a pile of flashcards.

We should also make sure they understand the meaning of the words to prepare them to learn how to read the right way.

When your child learns to read at an early age, it expands their vocabulary and opens up their love for learning. It helps build their confidence and vastly improves their learning abilities.

And based on my experience, having the right reading methodology when teaching your child learn to read makes a world of difference.

I should know as I made that mistake. 😢

In fact, you can read my story about my child’s struggle with reading here and how we were able to help my child become an advanced reader here. 😀🤗

The post When Does A Toddler Learn How To Read? appeared first on ChildLovesToLearn.com.

Some people like Math. Some don’t. I can’t say I like it. I can’t say I hate it. I just don’t consider it my expertise. Nonetheless, I didn’t struggle with it when I was in school. I would have to credit my high school math teacher for that.

He gave super easy tips to survive math. According to him, we just had to memorize and to practice. For him, to practice meant writing down everything. Be it a formula or a solution, he wanted us to write down everything. It worked for me. I took his tips to college and survived math.

Now, I’m slowly introducing the same tips to my child. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not gearing my daughter to be a math wizard. If she grows up to be one, it’s a bonus.

I’m going to be combining those two tips with these 6 child-friendly activities I learned from Themeasuredmom.com. I have a good feeling that it’s going to work out just fine.

6. Pointing Out Math In Everyday Activities

The earlier kids realize that math is evident in everyday activities, the better. At an early, they will realize that math is part of life. They won’t fear it. Taking out the fear factor in learning makes a huge difference.

Hence, it is the reason why I believe that pointing out the math in everyday activities can slowly help a child understand, if not, appreciate math.

There’s a lot of learning opportunities in math on the road. The glaring speed limit signs on the road are great for introducing two-digit or sometimes, three-digit numbers.

It also wouldn’t hurt if my daughter is introduced to the concept of the speed limit on the road. I think relating the concept of numbers to speed is not just pretty cool. It’s useful and practical.

5. Cooking Together

Cooking together is not just a great way to introduce the simple concepts of math. It’s also a magical way to bond with my daughter.

Sure, I can see a mess in the making but what the heck! If it’s going to encourage my daughter to make a mess and at the same time, learn a couple of math concepts such as measuring and portioning, then it’s worth a try.

For memory retention, I could ask her simple questions about the recipe. Questions like, how many eggs we put in or how much water was needed to make yummy pancakes are going to help a lot.

4. Playing Math Board Games

I think playing math board games is a fantastic way to introduce simple concepts such as counting and shape identification. It’s also a great way for my daughter to practice simple math concepts as she plays and enjoys the game.

Of course, it’s not that easy to get any child to sit through a board game. Your child might even change the rules of the game.

I think it’s just a matter of finding the right math board game. For my kid, I am looking to play more board games such as Trouble and Sorry.

3. Reading Math Books

Reading math books not only nurtures the love for reading, but it also opens the door to the wonderful world of numbers, shapes, and simple logical thinking.

According to Whatdowedoallday.com, the following math books are great for babies and toddlers.

These books are Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book by Karen Katz, Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang, Toddler Two by Anastasia Suen, Doggies by Sandra Boynton, Black & White by Tana Hoban, Spots and Dots by Chez Pitchall, Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli, Bright Baby Touch & Feel by Roger Priddy, My Very First Book of Shapes by Eric Carle, and Big Little by Leslie Patricelli.

Considering the long list of math books available out there, I’m not going to run out of materials to read out to my daughter.

2. Doing Simple Math Activities

While math can be introduced and taught through everyday activities, it can be strengthened by simple structured activities.  Going over a couple of math activities on worksheets is one good example. This is also the part where I can instill in my daughter the habit of practicing math.

Of course, practicing math is not just limited to worksheets. As parents, we have to take some time to sit with our young kids to go through some math activities such as counting, measuring objects, and identifying shapes.

The precious time we put in it can help spark the interest in math.

1. Playing With Puzzles And Building Toys

This is good news for all moms out there who incessantly complain about the mess their kids make. Who hasn’t complained about Lego pieces lying all over the floor? I know I have.

As I have said, here’s some good news for moms who complain about building toys such as Lego. It’s time to stop complaining and to start welcoming the mess.

According to research, playing with building blocks such as Lego can help a young child do well in math. The time young children spend on playing with building blocks can help determine how well they’ll do in math throughout their school years.

If that’s not a good reason to keep those building blocks lying on the floor, then I don’t know what is.

Math need not be a scary subject. If we can help our kids appreciate it in their early years, they’ll enjoy learning more of it when they get to school.

The post 6 Child-Friendly Activities That Introduce The Concepts Of Math appeared first on ChildLovesToLearn.com.

There is nothing simple about teaching. Imparting information so that it could be absorbed and understood is no easy task. In spite of that, I’ve always wanted to be a teacher.

Unfortunately, I never got around to fulfill my dream of becoming a teacher. I ventured into another industry, which wasn’t so bad at all.

Now that I’m a mom, I am slowly fulfilling my dream of becoming a teacher. I’m proud to say that I am my daughter’s first teacher and I’m loving it.

I am loving how I can teach my daughter how to read, how to write, and even how to count.

Moms As The First Teachers

Well, I’m not a certified teacher who teaches within the confines of a classroom. I’m just someone who just teaches my daughter at home.

The nice thing about homeschooling is that it gives a mom, like me, an opportunity to experience teaching. I am enjoying every minute of it.

Homeschooling is a productive way to bond with my daughter. When my husband and I decided on homeschooling, I was toying with the idea of hiring a teacher who can help me out. If not a teacher, a tutor would do.

It was only until another homeschooling mom encouraged me to handle everything. That got me thinking. Aside from being able to save a couple of bucks on tutors, I would be able to fulfill of becoming a teacher. So, I said to myself, “Why not!”

From the first day of homeschooling my daughter, I knew I made the right choice. There was not even a moment when I had second thoughts about homeschooling my daughter. The best part of it all was that I realized that I should be my daughter’s first teacher.

Moms should be the first teachers of their kids. Needless to say, they might even be the best teachers for their kids. Of course, that’s just me talking and I could be a little biased on that.

A Sense Of Fulfillment

Nothing beats the feeling of seeing my kid learn. For me, it’s a massive sense of fulfillment.

The great thing about homeschooling is the simplicity of it. The subjects are very basic. Why shouldn’t they be? My daughter’s just five years old and we are at the stage where she is learning how to read, write, and do a little math.

The subject that I enjoy teaching my daughter at the moment is reading. This is not to say that I don’t like to teach writing and math. I do as well.

However, I find that teaching reading is more rewarding on my part. It isn’t easy. There are challenges.

Nonetheless, these challenges are manageable. As long as I patiently take the time to read a story out loud to my daughter, positive outcomes are bound to follow.

Modesty aside, my daughter is now able to recognize letters of the alphabet. She is also able to sound off all the letters of the alphabet. That has helped her a lot in reading simple words. I’m very happy about that.

Each time she sees a word, be it signage along the road or in the grocery, she is always trying her best read it. That makes me a very proud mom. The fact that she is trying gives me a sense of fulfillment.

Teaching Reading Is Fun And Entertaining

The best part of teaching reading is the story-telling portion of it. Reading a story out loud to my daughter is not just fun. It’s interesting.

I get to see how my daughter can process the story and it just amazes me what goes on in her innocent mind. There is never a dull moment when I ask her about the story that I’m reading out loud to her.

Most of the time, I’m entertained with the way my daughter understands the story. Every time I ask her what she thinks might happen to the story, she has a different interpretation.

Although I’m thrilled that she can stay still while I read out the story to her, I know we still have to work on a lot of things when it comes to understanding the story. One thing is for sure; she loves the story-telling portion of our daily routine. Well, so do I.

Sure, there are times when I worry about her comprehension. When those moments of worry creep up on me, I just tell myself that tomorrow is another day of learning.

I am very happy that my husband and I chose to homeschool for our daughter. It has given me the opportunity of a lifetime.

I have become the teacher that I’ve always wanted to be. The best part of it is that I am the teacher of a little girl I call my daughter.

When your child learns to read at an early age, it expands their vocabulary and opens up their love for learning. It helps build their confidence and vastly improves their learning abilities.

And based on my experience, having the right reading methodology when teaching your child learn to read makes a world of difference.

I should know as I made that mistake. 😢

In fact, you can read my story about my child’s struggle with reading here and how we were able to help my child become an advanced reader here. 😀🤗

The post A Mom’s Point Of View: The Thrill Of Teaching Reading appeared first on ChildLovesToLearn.com.

Books come in two forms nowadays. They could either printed or digital. I’ve enjoyed both forms. Over time, I have leaned toward digital books.

I find that digital books are more affordable for me. The best thing about is that I don’t have to worry about taking any book along with me.

As long as I have my smartphone, I know I can read my book. I can read in the car, in the restaurant, and even while I’m waiting in line at the grocery. Digital books are more convenient for me.

It’s a different story when it comes to buying books for my daughter. As much as I prefer digital books for myself, I prefer printed books for my daughter.

In this day and age where everything is digital, it’s a must for kids to have access to printed books. This is not just an opinion of mine.

Research shows that kids are better off reading printed books. Since they’re just learning how to read, they must develop deep reading skills. They can only develop deep reading skills if they start reading printed books.

What Exactly Is Deep Reading?

I had no idea what deep reading was until I came across it. It’s a term coined by the renowned essayist, Sven Birkerts.

Deep reading entails reading deliberately and thoughtfully, without any kind of distraction. Only from deep reading can deep thinking come about.

For me, that makes a lot of sense. I feel that deep reading can only be developed when a child is holding and reading a printed book.

A printed book takes a child to a place where only the story and characters exist. The child can focus on the characters and story without any distractions.

Hence, every single word and photo on a printed book is ingrained in the child’s mind. When that happens, the child’s mind is slowly developing the skills of deep thinking and reading.

The earlier these skills are developed, the better it is for the child.

Non-Linear Vs. Linear Reading

There are two types of reading. The non-linear reading is when the reader jumps from one section to another. The reader doesn’t usually finish reading the selection. It may be that he or she is just going through a reading selection to find important information.

Linear reading is the traditional way of reading. This is the traditional reading method that was taught to us as kids.

Linear reading requires us to read every single word that we see from the left side to the right side of a printed book. There is no jumping in linear reading since we have to go through every single word and page to finish the book.

There is no doubt that linear reading is what’s going to help develop deep reading and thinking. However, this doesn’t mean that non-linear reading is not a good skill to develop.

Non-linear reading comes in handy when there’s a need to develop speed reading. However, it’s important to note that linear reading should be the priority for children who are just learning how to read. Non-linear reading can come after.

How About On-Screen Reading?

Here’s another interesting thought. On-screen reading is a lot different from reading printed books. Neuroscience has proven that on-screen reading makes use of a different part of the brain. It shifts the brain to a non-linear manner of reading.

The reason for that is because on-screen reading paves the way to unnecessary browsing and scanning. It’s going to be pretty hard for a kid to focus on a digital book when he or she knows that YouTube is just a click away.

So, if kids are given digital books to practice reading, they’re not going to be able to develop linear reading. That could be a problem in the long run.

Printed Books Are Critical In A Child’s Learning Development

In spite of the fast rise of digital books, I have to say that printed books are still the pillars of a child’s learning development.

Nothing could be more satisfying than holding a printed book and reading every single word on the page. The printed words, no matter how simple they are, can create images in a child’s mind.

The mere act of turning a page can help expand the images into scenes. At such a young age, a child is learning how to visualize a story in his or her mind.

As a child turns to the last page to end a story, he or she feels a sense of accomplishment. Those simple actions are critical in the development of linear and deep reading.

There’s no doubt that kids are better off learning how to read on printed books. That’s why it just makes so much sense to have my daughter read them instead of digital books.

The digital books can wait until my daughter has fully developed the skills of linear and deep reading.

When your child learns to read at an early age, it expands their vocabulary and opens up their love for learning. It helps build their confidence and vastly improves their learning abilities.

And based on my experience, having the right reading methodology when teaching your child learn to read makes a world of difference.

I should know as I made that mistake. 😢

In fact, you can read my story about my child’s struggle with reading here and how we were able to help my child become an advanced reader here. 😀🤗

The post Why I Prefer Printed Books For My Daughter appeared first on ChildLovesToLearn.com.