'Read-Aloud' eBooks!

[WRESTIE]

What do 'you' do with 'read-aloud' ebooks? Should parents let their children get on with it themselves, when we are told the whole purpose of 'read-aloud' ebooks is for we parents too!

generally read/listen to the story with them then discuss what happened, favourite bits etc at the end, unless of course I am trying to escape from DD for 5 minutes and use it as distraction, then I just leave her to it.

Treat e reading scheme books in exactly the same way you would paper scheme books. Sit with your child while they read it to you (don't let them "cheat" and let the computer read it to them) and definitely don't just leave them to it.

sorry I'm assuming you mean Oxford Owl or Pearson Bug Club/Phonic bugs

I never have the sound turned on on my laptop, well rarely anyway and I didn't realise that the Oxford Owl ones DID have a voice reading it, I just have the sound off and let the kids read them.

The reason I asked is that I believe in 'bedtime' Storytime! Quality time whether ebook or printed book when you can share with your children what to me is perhaps the most precious part of a busy day! Its the perfect time for hopefully, a good story, little interruption, cuddles, questions and answers! Its the way I was raised and as a child, I 'hungered' for the written word and story-time! It was good to read your positive comments and know that this still happens as I was concerned after recently being told that some Mums are either too tired or just too busy to do this! I also believe in Morals and Manners tucked into Story-time. What are your thought?!

I think you should take the time to read from the written word yourself for your child.
It will also help model good English for you, which could be beneficial...

Ah see what you mean, I thought you were just trying to work out how you were meant to use them, sorry.

We swap between kindle and normal books at bedtime depending what DD (4) fancies having read to her. We spend quite a lot of time on buses so often read stories on the kindle then and its quite useful for now DD's started reading on her own as I can get her new books for free as she gets to each level.

DS (9) isn't a fan of my kindle unless it's joke books, he prefers to wander round charity shops and get 'real' books as he says its more fun, but then he is currently reading The Two Towers so rarely lets me read to him anymore anyway probably because he reads better than I do he will read me and DD a bed time story though.

We have some stories with morals and manners in but to be honest I've never deliberately read a story with them because it has a certain message, I prefer to let them pick.

I'm afraid you are right not all children do get a bedtime story (a handful of the reception children I have taught over the years had bedtime stories) many are sent to bed with a DVD. As you say it is a special time for sharing stories and cuddles.

really mrz, do lots not read with a parent? I sometimes do stories followed by a story cd to fall asleep to, but always read at bedtime.

I think you would be shocked at how many children have never had a bedtime story and who never read with a parent.

I don't remember being read to as a child but I am sure my mum did, but I was free reading from fairly young and a bookworm.

I always do stories at bedtime but if DD seems tired I try to do the school reading before bed as she gets grumpy. Though she's not far off free reading herself she meets a lot of new words she needs explaining.

I still read at to my grown up children when I find a book that I want to share obviously not at bedtime

Wow! Some lovely conversations going on here and so informative too! Thanks a Million! For what its worth I sat my baby daughter on my lap at 6 weeks old and read picture books to her. (People thought I was crazy to do this) 'Babies don't learn at that age!' - they said! WRONG! To my utter amazement the Head Teacher at her Primary School called us one day saying he needed to talk with Us! The upshot was: She was a fluent reader almost three year's ahead of herself and always asking questions and we were advised to take her to London UK for 'special tests' which we did to be told we had a 'gifted child' and we, as parents should join the Association of Gifted Parents! I believe our children are 'never' too young to learn and 'quality-time' is the 'priceless gift' we, their parents, can give to our deeply loved - Little-Ones! There are new kinds of books out now 'edutainment' - books that educate and entertain. What are your thoughts of these? Or do you feel this should be left to the Teaching profession?

Wrestie, I think reading with babies helps them a lot, I started reading to my children from birth, the sound of my voice used to lull them to sleep (and it was far less embarrassing for me than singing lullabies) and I started showing them picture books as soon as they could sit up on my lap, both love books and read well for their ages, for a long time I thought that was what all mums did though as my mum and I always did it with my little brothers and sisters (big family, when I was 14/15 we had 5 under 5's in the house so I used to help out a lot) and I was the first of my friends to have children.

I've not heard of 'edutainment' books but my children quite enjoy reading educational books and in DS's case articles online (he's obsessed with archaeology and keeps digging up the flower beds to look for spear heads or dinosaur bones, he's driving me mad with it).
DD is reading this shark fact book and the other animals they do and she's really enjoying it, is that the kind of thing you mean?

I find it really weird that so many parents don't read with their children (although I know the majority of my friends don't unless its for school) cuddling up and reading together is my favourite part of the day, and it was even when it was my brothers and sisters I was reading with.

Its really sad isn't it when parents, for one reason or another don't read together with their children! I still find myself asking 'why' time and time again! I just cannot understand it. Reading is not a chore! Reading is an amazing and wonderful adventure, especially to children, opening their minds and imaginations to a million dreams! DS is a perfect example! Go on digging up those flowerbeds! We found fossilized imprints of worms and insects on stones and rocks - but not dinosaur bones, I'm afraid - at least not yet DS! But! Like you we are 'ever' hopeful! When I sit in a Classroom during Workshop time and see children bright, attentive and eager to learn, bursting with ideas that are at times truly profound, my heart sings! You ask: 'What is edutainment? Edutainment is the act of learning through a medium that both educates and entertains i.e. entertainment-message-content-education. As much a marketing concept as content because it appeals. I have been told formally educated people (growing all the time now) have more disposable income and place 'high-value' on education and enrichment of family leisure-time! They could be right! I would value your thoughts on this! Do you take a book from the shelf or download just because it has a pretty cover that attracts or do you look at the content first then make your judgement whether to buy?

Could not agree with you more!

His best find in the flower beds so far is a six-pence from the forties. We found loads of fossils on holiday a couple of years ago tho (along the Jurassic coast).

I let the kids choose their own books most of the time (having guided DD to the right section). when i do buy them a book (i.e. birthdays/christmas) I choose DDs by looking for her latest favourite animal or colour on the cover and DS's non-fiction books by typing in a subject/keyword/looking n the relevant section and going 'ooh I've not seen that one before' knowing that he can read pretty much anything i can, fiction books I'm a lot more careful about as its a very fine balance between too easy for him and age-appropriate, luckily I have a 9 year old sister and 10 year old brother who read at the same level so they recommend each other books a lot.

Oh and i go out and buy them books if I suddenly see or remember 1 I enjoyed that I think one of them would like.

For books for me, I go to amazon and type in free e-books, go to whatever genre i fancy at the time and download the first 3 that catch my eye (which admittedly has resulted in quite a few strange choices, and a lot of erotic novels by accident I should point out I have my own kindle, they're not on the one the kids share) I rarely buy myself actual books unless they're for uni or I spot ones that are missing from a collection.

WRESTIE lots of my pupils don't have books in the home and have never been in a library ...I don't think people realise.

Oh! 'MRZ! Isn't it sad to hear you say that! But its true! If only every parent would wake up to the fact that - Knowledge, reading and articulation are the roadway to a successful Life! I get so distressed when I hear the expression - feral Children! I am just about to return to another School with my Workshops! I move 'heaven and earth' in these to encourage 'good values' and watch 'self-esteem' - Blossom and Grow! I have found the 'edutainment' path perfectly suited here with the 'welcome' of Head Teachers and Teachers saying: Its New! It Inspires! Its Different! The Children are learning without even knowing it!' I hope these catch on in the Libraries and Homes - they have 'so' much to offer. Every Child Matters in my World! No matter what their situation - they deserve the best I can give!

ADIKIA - Was so interested in your comment about going to Amazon and downloading first '3' free ebooks that catch your eye! So I gather you look at their content later. Are those the ones you usually head towards or do you actually buy from Amazon too? Do you ever go to iTunes? I see you go for Covers i.e. DD's latest animal or colour when you look for a book! If you are purchasing in book stores, do you take a look at the content before you buy? There are 'so' many books in the children's sections on the shelves in book shops I often wondered how other parents made their choices! Do you go for books when the series has been on TV for example like Disney! I think these cost a fortune!

Even sadder most of these kids have TVs, DVDs, games consoles, computers and even Sky in their bedrooms and not a single book!

DS (7) has refused a bedtime story since he was 6 (he is 8 on Saturday) saying "it's babyish"

I have tried loads of books but have now given up as he just does not listen to them and would rather read them to himself. He does enjoy reading aloud to me though.

DD (5) adores her bedtime story.

I avoid stuff like disney as I really hate them, I do read the back after choosing by cover, but only put it back if the story looks really terrible.

I'm poor, hence the free downloads from amazon, the only ones of my books I've paid for in the last 2 years have been set books for uni.

Well! I 'love' the written word! I chose to carefully balance chosen books with my own children! I like books to have substance and inform and I'm a great 'believer' in encouraging children to reason things out! I read to them! Sang to them and we were always making up little 'sing-song' rhymes! Making things 'fun' and an 'adventure' in Words. I always remember in one school where I was taking a small class in the Library of the day one child (struggling with reading) was laughed at by the others! I took them to task explaining that this child had done their 'utmost' best! That even if he had only received 3/10 to their 9/10 - he had done 'well' and 'his best' was to be respected! We all learned a valuable lesson that day! I feel there may always be a place for printed books for children and so it should be. But I dislike the cheapies (are they cheap) that just have bizarre pictures and hardly a word in them all over the book-shelves! I am convinced the way forward will be ebooks that are interactive, especially in a World where children are so very apt at using Computers, Games Consules, DVD's etc..... What do other Mum's think here?

This parent thinks you are using the forum to get some insights about how to market your "product"/ "workshops" so I'm not going to give you my views on e books vs conventional books.