To want to continue reading aloud every night to my kids (aged 7 & 9) when they should be reading independently more?

[wannabuyawatch]

One of my great parenting pleasures has always been reading aloud to my kids and it is getting even better now that we are into Roald Dahl, David Walliams, Enid Blyton etc. I read out loud to them as much as possible - bedtime, road trips, travel etc, and as is a lovely way to spend cosy, quiet time with them. I do it for my own enjoyment as much as theirs.
Only trouble is, they seem to be less keen on reading on their own, especially my 9 year old. He much prefers listening to me and it is a battle to get him to read on his own for pleasure, even though he is an excellent reader.
Am I being slightly selfish? I know at my age, my head was constantly in a book...maybe I am taking over too much...

Keep doing it! I work with teenagers and one of their favourite things is to sit and be read to. We build on from reading to them to doing a page each to increase confidence. One of the best ways to spend time with kids of all ages

Not selfish at all. Keep doing it, maybe try to get them to take turns with it. It doesn't have to be split equally. I wish I had your enthusiasm TBH.

DD's teacher last year (Y4) was passionate about teaching English. She read to her class at every opportunity, including when they were getting changed for games and tidying up the classroom.

You can do both, I have 3 dc, the 10 and 8y old are obviously independent Readers but I still read to the 5 and 8y old as well and the 10y old even deigns to listen sometimes!

I read to DD (7). School told me it was a good idea. It enhances their vocabulary, helps with their comprehension and maintains their interest in reading.

She loves being read to. Ok we do have to work on her reading alone for pleasure but it is coming too.

DH and I still take it in turns to read to DC at bedtime. DCs won't let us stop and sush!! but we enjoy it.
Independent reading is a wonderful skill and should be allowed but being read to is still important.

One of the happiest times of my life was reading the Narnia stories to my dd. Then she grew up and read me Harry Potter and she is much better at the voices.

there are other ways to get a boy to read - and at that age they often prefer to read non-fiction (still reading!) perhaps try books on subjects he enjoys / or try books which are more pictorial - e.g. tintin / asterix / etc. - still lots of reading, but easier to access...

it is more important that a child gets into the habit of reading books / having a book in their hand, and that becomes a habit, than that it is particularly a structured build-up in terms of difficulty - also very important that they see parents (esp. role models such as a father for a boy) reading, as that demonstrates that it is a good thing to do... don't sweat the detail :)

DS1 is a real bookworm but we like to read together so I read slightly more advanced books with him :)

Keeeep reading. It does no harm and will only maintain their love of books.

Keep doing it as long as you and they want. I still read aloud to DD (nearly 10) and her brother (17) listens in through the open bedroom doors. It's the best part of our day.
They're both voracious readers in their own right.

Keep doing it! Story telling is amazing for everyone to listen to.

Noooo!
I'm 45 and sometimes listen to Alan Bennet audiobooks, I still read to myself!

We (actually DH) read to ours until they were about eight or nine years old, then it just fizzled out naturally. They are still serious bookworms and we often read the same books at about the same time so that we can discuss them - a sort of family book club.

A friend of mine was still reading to hers at 12 and 14, although they used to take it in turns to read. It was a special part of their day, they were reading Jane Austen and books like that. She only stopped when the DDs started going to bed later than her.

LightDrizzle I love hearing Alan Bennet reading - I'll see what the library has once it opens again on Monday. We have tapes of him reading Winnie the Pooh, it's our only reason to keep our ancient cassette tape player alive.

I love Audible books.
Wonderful actors reading to me. Especially Stephen Briggs reading Pratchett or Ian Carmichael reading Wimsey
It is the most soothing, soporific, comforting and enjoyable end to the day.

I am 51

My 18 yr old DS has just applied to University to study English Literature. His personal statement says that his interest in English Literature stemmed from his father reading bedtime stories. (He's got 3 offers and we're waiting for 2 more!)

What lovely and inspiring responses. Actually brought a tear to my eye! Excellent advice about reading more challenging books and discussing grammar, mood, vocab etc as we go along. My DS 7 constantly asks what words mean so I know it is hugely enhancing his vocabulary. The best thing is, I also have a DS 2, so I will be able to do it all again!

Oh please keep reading. My daughter's teacher actually advised me to keep reading aloud to dd as apparently it's hugely important. DD now reads a book a day.

I wouldn't be too keen on giving an English lesson during reading though. Sounds like a sure fire way of sucking the joy out of reading!

Children's reading comprehension doesn't catch up with their listening comprehension until they are around 12 or so (for average kids). Thisplus the fact that you are there to explain difficult words and conceptsmeans that reading books aloud to children offers the opportunity to immerse them in more challenging texts that they would be able to handle alone.

It's so amazing for their vocabulary and general knowledge!

Please, please keep reading to your kids as long as they will let you!

In Victorian times, adults reading aloud to each other used to be a common way of passing the evenings or ensuring that everyone was entertained while they got on with manual tasks like sewing and mending--it is only in the modern age that we have come to think that there is an age limit on "being read to."

Even if there were no direct benefits in terms of their educational and intellectual development (clearly there are), I think it's somewhat important for their emotional development and self confidence to have quiet, personal, shared time on a daily basis with at least one parent. This is a time where you can use stories to help them talk about their problems, feelings and experiences. It keeps that connection and their confidence that they have your loving ear and attention focused on them for a part of the day.

We expect children to need us so little so quickly, to grow out of things like being read to so soon. But leaving them to it removes a part of the day when they have you to themselves with no tv or devices or dinners, activities, homework, deadlines. How do we then expect them to talk to us before its too late if they're struggling, being bullied, feeling down, having a crisis of confidence?

I read an article a while back, a dad started reading again to his nine year old daughter each night and continued until she left home for college, the article was about how their relationship had improved as a result and how fondly the girl remembered this time they spent together. I've just googled it and it seems she's also written a book about it. www.makeareadingpromise.com

I still read aloud to dd2 (10) for 20 minutes at bedtime. We both love it - I particularly enjoy giving all the characters different voices and accents . She always reads on a bit in the book after I've finished too.

adults reading aloud to each other used to be a common way of passing the evenings or ensuring that everyone was entertained

It's just a shame we've outsourced and dumbed it down!

Go for it! My Dad only stopped reading to me just before secondary school. I was reading to myself a lot at that age but still enjoyed being read to. That being said I'm still partial to an audio book every now and then if I'm sewing.

YANBU