I posted this piece a while back…
With my son’s 4th grade year coming to an end, I find this information more timely than ever.
I love picture books, and I often write about them. In my post, Top 10 Reasons Picture Books Rock, I touch upon the importance of continuing to read aloud to your child even AFTER he/she is able to read independently. Please note that although children may be ready for early readers and chapter books, I implore parents to continue reading picture books with/to your children. There is no better way to connect at the end of a hectic day than to get lost in a picture book together. This ritual is one you can continue well into their teen years (yes, really, I promise). A child should not be denied this sacred time with you, just because he has “grown up”. Reading and/or revisiting picture books is a comforting ritual for children, and picture books have a magical way of opening dialogue and accessing feelings that older children may not otherwise share with you. So, crack open a picture book and enjoy!
If you are making this transition, you may find the following articles helpful.I hope you’ll discover something to enhance your family’s shared reading experiences.
Suggested articles:
7 reasons why reading aloud to older kids is still very important
1. Children listen on a different level than they read.
2. Life Lessons.
3. Enjoyment.
4. Reading aloud with older children helps builds vocabulary.
5. Physical closeness.
6. Sense of security.
7. Sense of belonging.
The hidden benefits of reading aloud – even for older kids
Here is another great resource for reading to your older child. This article includes an extensive list of recommended books.
Reading Aloud With Children Twelve & Older
Do you read aloud with your older child? I’d love to hear about your experience.
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Michelle Eastman Books 
Nola Bogie
My parents began reading to me, or singing to me the moment I arrived. Nursery rhymes, hymns, fairy tales, or tales from their own imagination. I taught 35 years, certified to high school, but choose 11-12 year-olds. Every Friday, my school had a half hour reading all over the school, in buddy system. My Grade 6s had kindergarten partners reading in “the hall of windows” where I had set up 6 ft. aquariums with waterfalls, and 8 foot plants. It was the favourite reading spot for our school. Great atmosphere, lying on the floor in south sunshine during snowstorms. In novel study, we had the same book which they read for themselves.But I had 12 year-olds from many parts of the world, with little English. I read to them daily from books like A Wrinkle in Time and Ghost of Dibble Hollow.Every year, we spent a week at Sheldon Valley, our Outdoor Education Centre. I snuggled a bed comforter on the bedroom hall floor with bunkbeds, or fireplace,and read them to sleep every night. So important.
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Michelle R. Eastman
What beautiful experiences. Thank you for sharing.
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Norah
I agree with you. I read to and with my children until they were in their teens. It is a wonderful experience. We learn so much about each other from the discussions inspired by books. Discussing situations, motivations and emotions of characters in stories allows a non-threatening discussion to take place; as simple as sharing ideas, where nobody is right, but everybody shares and learns from and about each other. You have shared an important message in this post.
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Michelle R. Eastman
Warms my heart to hear mom stories like yours! Thank you for sharing!
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macjam47
Reblogged this on BOOK CHAT and commented:
Michelle Eastman weighs in on the importance of reading to your older children.
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kadavis1
Great post! Never stop reading to your children and grandchildren. Too many hours are spent with electronics rather than loved ones.
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amymorrisjones
Wow, this is so perfectly timed! My oldest is reading to himself, so the routine of reading together (other than homework) has fallen away. I just told him over the weekend that I really missed reading to him, and he seems okay with the idea of taking some time to read together again. We’ll see how it goes!
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Michelle R. Eastman
That is wonderful. I hope it is the beginning of a new adventure for you both!
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Bette A. Stevens
Reblogged this on Bette A. Stevens, Maine Author and commented:
It’s NATIONAL GET CAUGHT READING MONTH… and a perfect time to discover and share why reading aloud with kids of all ages is so important! ~ Bette A. Stevens http://www.4writersandreaders.com
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Bette A. Stevens
Sharing your wonderful post! 🙂
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Micki Peluso
hildren of all ages learn different perspectives when reading out loud with an adult, especially when that adult read the same book when younger. Same books for different generations = new perspectives on the material and times.
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Michelle R. Eastman
That’s a great point!
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Pingback: Reading to Big Kids..Don’t Stop, Be Readin’…Hold on to that Feelin’ | Defining Ways
sjhigbee
I read to my son until he was fourteen. He struggled to learn to read, though the penny did eventually drop, but he never wanted to pick up a book and read to himself. So I continued to read the books to him that he would have liked to have a go at, half hoping he would one day get fired up enough to read them himself. He never did, but it certainly gave us a bond and while he was a difficult baby, demanding toddler and challenging child – he was a lovely teenager. I often think it was partly due to the extra closeness reading just to him every evening…
Now I have grandchildren and my granddaughter is severely dyslexic, it is vital to keep reading to her. Keep her in touch with books her peers are reading and enjoying, rather than the rather limited reading material she can manage herself. I keep praying that one day, she’ll be able to read fluently to me.
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Michelle R. Eastman
Thank you for sharing your story. You sound like an amazing mom and grandma!
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sjhigbee
It’s kind of you to say so… But we just do the best we can, don’t we?
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D. Wallace Peach
Lovely post. I wholeheartedly agree. 🙂
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Dayne Sislen, Children's Book Illustrator
Reblogged this on Dayne Sislen Illustration and commented:
Reading with your kids, no matter what age, will help them in later life.
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bethany3224
I recently read a study by Scholastic that said “More than half of children ages 0–5 (54%) are read aloud to at home 5–7 days a week. This declines to only one in three kids ages 6–8 (34%) and to one in six kids ages 9–11 (17%).” I am also a huge advocate of reading aloud long after kids can read independently. I agree with you 100%!!
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Michelle R. Eastman
Thanks for stopping by and for your insight. I just put my son to bed (almost 11) and read some of the new Wimpy Kid book to him. It’s second nature to him to get stories read to him every night.
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