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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To want to take reading books on holiday for 5yo twins?

29 replies

spokette · 13/07/2009 11:10

DH, DTS(age 5yo) and I are going away for two weeks in the Med.

The boys are currently in reception and progressing well with their reading. I want to take along a few books so that they can keep practising but DH thinks they should have a complete break. I was only going to get them to read for 10-15 minutes a day.

DH and I will be taking books to read so what is wrong with instilling the same habit into the boys? I cannot see how I am being unreasonable. What do you think?

OP posts:

TeenyTinyToria · 13/07/2009 11:12

Not unreasonable at all - I wouldn't even consider going on holiday with children if I didn't have books to keep them occupied.

If I were you, I'd take simple, interesting stories rather than school "reading" books, so that the reading is fun and not an extension of school.

Greensleeves · 13/07/2009 11:12

it's the phrase "get them to read" that worries me

if you are letting them take books because they will spontaneously want to read for pleasure, fine

but if you are trying to instil the habit by making them sit and read, then I think you will turn them off reading

what you want to pass on to them IMO is the LOVE of reading books, not the habit of taking books on holiday.

redskyatnight · 13/07/2009 11:14

Nothing wrong with taking books ... but maybe ones that you read to them rather than the other way round? Tis a holiday after all and at this age (my DS is same age) reading for themselves is still hard work.

oooggs · 13/07/2009 11:15

great idea - we are taking books for ds1 (also just finishing reception) to read whilst away - dts (only two) can't read but we will still take them books.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 13/07/2009 11:17

I assume you would be taking along story books to read to them anyway. That would be the equivalent of the books you and DH are taking to read. Taking reading scheme books is more like taking office work on holiday with you imo.
So YANBU to take children's books on holiday but YABU to take reading scheme books IMO. If you want them to keep up their reading on holiday why not do it in a fun way by getting them holiday diaries, postcards to write etc and helping them create a record of the holiday -look at signs in the local language and see what makes them different to English or get a simple children's phrasebook for the language - you can incorporate reading into the holiday in that way without doing the grimmo "sit down for your reading practice children" thing.

seeker · 13/07/2009 11:17

Taking lots of exciting books to read to them is a brilliant idea. Making them sit and read to you for 15 minutes a day is a bad idea!

Original poster

spokette · 13/07/2009 11:21

I was planning to take fun books to read to them but also phonic based books to keep up with their practising.

OP posts:

pointydog · 13/07/2009 11:21

agree with greens

pointydog · 13/07/2009 11:22

just take fun books

gorionine · 13/07/2009 11:24

YANBU, reading IS fun!

MamaG · 13/07/2009 11:25

Take books, but only read with them if THEY choose to pick them up

don't force them

wishingchair · 13/07/2009 11:26

I would take fun books. IME they need a complete break ... kind of helps their brain work it out. I always found my DD came on in leaps and bounds after a break.

ScummyMummy · 13/07/2009 11:27

Adult or child, fun books are the only books worth reading at any time, imo. And, as a bonius, if they have words in them they will have phonics in them too! So if your idea of fun is phonics you'll have that covered and everyone will be happy happy happy.

Overmydeadbody · 13/07/2009 11:27

Well I'm on holiday now, for ten days, and DS took no less than 6 books with him. He is 6.

I would not make him sit down and 'read' though, as you said 'get them to read for 10-15 minutes a day'.

Reading is meant to be fun. Take books, they will proabably read them. But don't make it into a chore.

Oh god judt take fun books, it doesn't matter what they read, it will still keep up their practicing.

DS has three tintin books and two Mr.Gum books among his holiday reading. Stuff he can read alone or I can read to him as a bedtime story.

They shouldn't be different books. That will give them the wrong message.

zeke · 13/07/2009 11:27

Why on earth would that be unreasonable?! My son is five very soon, and in reception, I will certainly be taking LOTS of books for us all to read!
He will definately read at least one book per day on holiday, because that is what he does everyday anyway and I see no reason to change it. However, my son has just started reading to himself when no one is around and enjoys it so I would not have to force him.

Overmydeadbody · 13/07/2009 11:27

I agree with scummymummy.

Original poster

spokette · 13/07/2009 11:32

I have noticed that they tend not to choose the phonic type books that I have bought for the home library. They prefer Mr Men, Thomas or Alien's Underpants.(lol)

I will let them choose the books they want to take but slip in a couple of reading scheme books just in case they want to practise reading them.

OP posts:

Original poster

spokette · 13/07/2009 11:32

I have noticed that they tend not to choose the phonic type books that I have bought for the home library. They prefer Mr Men, Thomas or Alien's Underpants.(lol)

I will let them choose the books they want to take but slip in a couple of reading scheme books just in case they want to practise reading them.

OP posts:

Lizzylou · 13/07/2009 11:37

I am doing the same, Spokette, DS1 is just about to finish reception.
I have bought some new, adventure type and Horrid Henry books but will also take some more "schooly" ones as well, I find he is more open to sitting down and reading whilst on holidays.
He also likes to write more when we're away, think it could be the lack of TV

pointydog · 13/07/2009 11:38

But they are practising reading every time they read, not just when they read boring reading scheme books.

seeker · 13/07/2009 11:38

They can practice reading on cereal packets and menus - you don't need reading scheme books to practice!

In fact the very sight of them might put your boys off if they are on holiday. Leave them at home. (The books, obviously, not the boys!)

gorionine · 13/07/2009 12:08

Sorry , I missed the bit where you where specifically talking about reading scheme books. I do agree with the others, it is better if you let him choose books they like rather than anything involving 3 children and their dog there is only so much Biff and Chip one can take!

Fennel · 13/07/2009 14:41

I might take some. 5yo has sort of got the hang of reading but I don't see it'll help to have 6 weeks off. also, we are often busy in term time and skimp on things like reading, sometimes we are better at doing these things in the holidays when we've got a bit more time.

We LIKE biff, chip and kipper in this house. Unfortunately we moved to the only primary school in the whole UK which doesn't use that scheme so I still wonder what happens in the later books.

Blondeshavemorefun · 13/07/2009 14:46

there is only so much biff, chip and kipper i can - have nannied for 18years and did the scheme with most of my dc - so kinda gets tedious (i can recite in my sleep)

but i get your point about pratcicing reading -when my dc come back from a holiday of 2/3weeks and i suggest/make them read the week before back to school and often at age 5/6 they forget, and even if only been a few weeks of no reading they forget simple words/how to break up words etc

so think its good to pratice but maybe not with school reading books but with other books instead

TwoIfBySea · 13/07/2009 14:50

Oh God, not Kipper books, I am so glad dts (age 7 1/2) are past that stage! I was ready to stuff that Magic Key somewhere painful.

Anyhoo.

I bought my dts phonic books, a set of them, to help them practise at home. I don't think they ever read them, they are now charity shop fodder. What they did read was the Church Mice books, Charlie and Lola, Harry and his dinosaurs. They are now on Astrosaurs and Beast Quest books.

I learned my lesson, they love to read but prefer to choose their own books and books they will actually enjoy reading.

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