Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
What if the parents don’t enjoy reading at all, themselves? How can they get excited about reading to their children, Richard?

Richard Grant:
Unfortunately, Mike, many parents—especially dads—don’t enjoy reading. But they can—by reading just for fun. Let me encourage moms and dads to pick up a book on something they already love and give themselves a mini-vacation, by reading for fun.

Choosing the right material is critical when developing a love of reading. My first book, for example, Silverglade: The Dream, was designed to keep a reader’s attention. There are lots of twists and turns and surprises in the story. But more than that, it was designed with the number of pages to be about a third less than normal. I did that to give the reader a sense of accomplishment. Many folks have never actually finished a book just for fun. This one they can finish. I had one homeschool student tell me that she had never before seen her dad sit down and read a book for fun. She told me her dad read Silverglade: The Dream all afternoon. And I think that’s exciting.

So how can parents get excited about reading to their children? Find the right material, and have fun with it. If you’re going to read aloud, you might want to read ahead first and practice a few pages, so you’re prepared. Have fun!

Mike:
Richard, those are excellent thoughts. Thank you for sharing them. Until next time, I’m Mike Smith.