Hello Parents and literature readers everywhere,
I have
recently started taking a class on Children's Literature, which excites me to
no end. Who doesn't love to read a good book? The feel of the pages in your
hands, the cracking sound the binding makes when you open one for the first
time, and the wonderful smell of the pages, brings back memories of reading as
a child.
In today's world of technology many
children do not get to experience these wonderful senses as we did as children.
With the invention of technology many children have e-readers or other devices
they use for entertainment and reading. Unfortunately, there are many other
technological advances that have diminished the need to get lost in a good book
like video games, cell phones, laptops, and iPad to name a few. These devices
have cast a shadow on reading a good book which has taken away from important
skills children learn. Reading has been shown to help children with language
development, build on vocabulary, and their knowledge base across curriculum.
With this in mind share a good book and your love of reading with your children
to enhance their reading skills in the future.
One of my favorite books as a child was
series called "Little House on the Prairie", by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Reading these books as a child took me on the same adventures Laura Ingalls
Wilder experienced as a child in the big woods of Wisconsin. I was able to
experience those adventures through her words and descriptions. She chronicled
her life and that of her families along with all of their struggles to survive
in early America as pioneers. One can imagine the struggles of carving out an
existence in a new place that has not been settled before. Food, water, and
protection from wildlife and Indians were first on their minds. Reading this
series will bring the real life struggles of this girl and her family to your
mind. You may have read these same books as a child why not share them with
your children and take them on a journey of early American history with Laura
Ingalls Wilder.
There are also other great series
available you can share with your children that are more up to date than the
Little House on the Prairie series. Some popular series with children are the
Magic Tree house books where a boy and girl who are best friends are taken on
spectacular magical adventures in their tree house. Reading aloud to children
also builds on their imaginations and teaches them to entertain themselves with
a good book instead of constantly being stimulated by electronic devices.
Designate a story time night at your house with your children and take them on
an adventure of the mind.
