April 2, 2008

Here is what my 8 year old grandaughter, Caroline, told me about why reading is best:

"Your imagination has things that are real that when you read are woven together with things that aren't real.  The real and the unreal things interlock, and that makes your imagination get stronger every time you read."

Pretty amazing....  She's a big reader.....

The Reading Mother

I had a Mother who read to me

Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,

Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,

"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a Mother who read me lays

Of ancient and gallant and golden days;

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,

Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales

Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings --

Stories that stir with an upward touch,

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible weath untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be --

I had a Mother who read to me.

                                            Strickland Gillilan

Strickland Gillilan also wrote the world's shortest poem: "FLEAS: Adam/Had 'em"

Why Should You Read to Your Baby? Language begins the moment your baby is born.  Your newborn already knows the sound of your voice and now wants to see your face.  Often your voice alone can calm a baby. And your singing voice - even if you can't carry a tune - provides a gentle rhythm for your baby or toddler. The best music for your baby is your own voice, because it is familiar to him.  So hum and sing away! 

Reading to baby is the most fun!
When you read to your new baby, it will seem at first like baby’s just snoozing. Don’t worry, by the time baby is four months old, she’ll be trying to eat up the book and you will have learned all the animal sounds and nursery rhymes you haven’t thought of in years. Before you know it, you, too will have a whole new world of facts and ideas. Children’s books are full of information, adventure and excitement.

Reading with children is the best snuggle time!
There is nothing like snuggling up to with young children and a pile of books on the sofa. Sharing stories, rhymes and songs will bring you closer to your children and enrich your time as a family.  If you are nursing a baby and have older children, nursing time is a nice time to cuddle together on the sofa with a pile of books.  Don't be fooled into thinking a video or TV can replace what you can do best.

Babies are listening to you speak
Long before babies form their first words babies are listening to the sounds of your voice, its mood and tone. Babies try to form the sounds of words early, by babbling and cooing, but all the time they are listening. When the house is quiet and you read to baby, his world expands and his vocabulary grows. You are giving your little one the best start. Believe it or not, school readiness begins the moment your baby is born, not because you are teaching your child all the time, but because your baby is learning, learning, learing.  Our job is to follow our baby's cues and signals and enjoy his abilities.

Emotions, excitement, adventure
The world expands when we read of far off places, of times gone by or days to come. When we read about someone in trouble -- for example a kitty lost in the garden -- we share our worry for that lost kitty and together we rejoice when the kitty is safe again with its mother. Babies learn empathy and how to care for others, right there in our laps. When we read aloud our tone of voice changes: it gets excited -- when the fire engine comes round the corner; it gets soft -- when we tell a secret to a butterfly, and it sounds just like a big cow -- when it mooos.

Discovering the world
Stories about airplanes, the zoo or a visit to the doctor can give children an idea of what to expect and prepare them for a new experience. Words and pictures, from the safety of a parent’s lap, can help children anticipate new experiences and develop courage and practice new skills.

Play and imagination
Playing with words, imagining, “What will happen if?....” provides the creative base for play, the work of children. Stories help us solve problems, enter into the lives of different characters and put ourselves into new experience or work. We get to try on different hats or pretend to be a naughty puppy – and spill the milk!

Books are the best refreshment
When everyone is tired and fussy there is nothing like sitting down together and ‘getting on the same page’. A story can soothe both mother and baby; it can be the best way for daddy to unwind and say ‘hello’ to baby when he gets home.
Stories and books help us get ready for bed, greet the new morning or fill up a rainy afternoon.

Meredith Baker ©2004