BENEFIT TO CHILDREN
Children need love, stability and connection–every day– from those who matter most to them. Reading to children is a priceless way to do all 3 as you bond and connect THROUGH the story! When a parent lovingly reads to a child, it creates special memories that can strengthen your relationship. Being safe, snuggled up sharing a book can create a warm positive environment that fosters close connection and trust– all essential for developing nervous systems and self esteem.
Shared reading is not about phonics (although this happy reading time will foster positive feelings about learning to read later). Reading aloud together is an opportunity for parents to engage with their children, laughing, playing, asking “I wonder” questions about the story or characters, and listening to their child’s thoughts and perspectives. These simple interactions through story time, can help to deepen the connection between parent and child to promote a sense of security and emotional well-being in the child that ripples out for years. This special story time can even open the door for children to have a built-in safe time to talk to you about their day, their worries or fears, instead of keeping them bottled up inside.
Turn Bedtime dread time in the BEST time with you! When shared reading time is turned into a bedtime routine, the predictability of this reading routine can help signal a smooth transition to bedtime that creates motivation for the child to brush teeth, get jammies on fast, because they want this special story time with you. By having this peaceful time reading with you, going to sleep with loving eyes looking at them, snuggling with them, reading to them…instead of being put to bed with screens, children go to sleep feeling loved and safe which has immeasurable positive ripples far into their future. (And of course its no secret that studies have shown that having a peaceful screen-free bedtime routine, helps create healthy sleep patterns for children and adults alike.) Good sleep makes everyones day better… all this from 1 simple reading routine!
BENEFIT TO PARENTS
Did you know that reading to children is not just good for the child, but also for the parent?! Recent studies showed an improvement in the mental health of the parent who read daily to their child, in addition to an improvement of the mental health of their child.
There are many reasons for this. Think about what happens when the distractions and to-do list of the phone is plugged into another room so all that’s left is a parent and a child snuggled up together with a good story plugged into each other; both together focused on the same thing, connecting THROUGH a good story. Laughing and loving together. Sharing a story together means taking a deep breath, setting down stresses of the day, and doing what matters most with those that matter most. A parent reading to their child, can create connection and peace, joy and fulfillment. Stepping into this relaxing and calming activity can happen THROUGH the doorway of good story
Creating this built in reading routine makes parenting easier! Children that feel seen and heard by their parent are more likely to listen to their parent during other times in the day. Making shared reading part of the bedtime routine makes parenting at bedtime easier! When this reading routine becomes part of your bedtime routine you can create happy time with you that can never be replaced AND kids that sleep better! That is worth everything to know that even if the rest of the day was a disaster you were able to send your kids to bed with love and a funny story… Because kids grow up too fast; this shared daily read aloud time together is priceless!
+( putton to online course: How to create this reading routine and take it to a whole new powerful parenting level! “The Best Time with YOU”)
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TURN BEDTIME DREAD-TIME INTO THE BEST TIME WITH YOUR CHILD
Create the daily SPACE for the shared reading joyful PLACE;
kids going to bed feeling loved -happy time with you- that can NEVER BE REPLACED!
MY MISSION
I have seen the immeasurable power of a thoughtfully chosen story read to a child on a loving lap. Can you imagine what this world would be like if EVERY CHILD went to bed with loving eyes being the last thing they saw? If EVERY CHILD, every day saw loving eyes listening to them, caring about them?!
My dream of Every Child being read to Every Day by someone who loves them is about:
- Children knowing and feeling they are loved. Every day.
- Children feeling seen and heard –never wondering if they matter to someone close to them.
- Parents having a built-in time to set down the to-do list and step away from the stresses of life, to reconnect with their child; to appreciate the gift their child is.
- A simple daily peaceful routine that makes parenting easier; that strengthens and improves parent/child relationships.
- A counter-ACE to Adverse Childhood Experiences to calm little nervous systems with meaningful enjoyable stories on safe loving laps. (Affiliate Link: The Deepest Well By Nadine Burke Harris M.D.)
- Even possibly, a small and simple solution to some of the worlds greatest societal ills: an antidote to combat isolation, poverty, abuse, neglect and trauma. All by connecting on a loving lap through reading a good story together.
Will you join me in my dream that Every Child, Every Where, be read to Every Day by someone who loves them?!
