READING TIME | Read and Discuss Stories is such a big hit in our household! Theo (1 year) loves looking at all of the different books we have… the more colorful the pictures, the better. One thing we love to do while reading is point to each word as we say it. It helps keep him focused on the page, and now that he can turn the pages himself, reading is even more fun for him!
With Noura (3 years), we have started playing a really fun game with our books. Since she has read most of the ones we already own, instead of buying new books, we have been re-imagining the ones we already have. What that looks like in practice is letting Noura “read” the book to us, using a combination of memory and imagination to tell the story based on the pictures. Since she isn’t reading words yet, it’s so fun to see how she interprets and perceives the story through what she sees on each page. Sometimes her versions are even better than the originals, and always much funnier!
I sometimes felt like reading had to be this very big, intentional thing. We all know how vital it is to children’s development, which can make it feel like there is a lot of pressure to get it right. With Noura, it has always been easy to read together and stay engaged. Theo, on the other hand, was less interested for a while, which occasionally made reading feel like a chore rather than a joy.
Now that he is beginning to genuinely enjoy reading (or playing) with books, the whole experience has shifted. Watching both kids interact with books in their own unique ways has been such a sweet reminder that there’s no single right way to raise a little reader!
By: Ashley Nassar Weeks
