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Read it aloud and don’t weep
May 29, 2012 by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at 08:06 AM
Just a quickie post today - a reminder of the importance of reading aloud to children, especially good-quality literature. William F. Russell’s book is an excellent starting place, and the link has more ideas down the right-hand side. Even after kids can read themselves, it’s very beneficial if parents continue to read to them - of course, the material should be more advanced than what the children can read themselves. There are all kinds of benefits - increased vocabulary and general knowledge, introduction to good writing and the classics, and the enjoyment of a special time together. Kids love these sessions and look forward to them. And here’s a list of children’s classic books.
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Talking about good reading for children, many of the homeschooling sites or Waldorf Education sites have excellent reading suggestions. Small homeschool-related businesses have begun to bring back (and even re-print) excellent children’s literature that was available pre-1970, but tended to disappear over the next forty years in favour of “hip” novels on pre-teen angst and every supposed social cause under the sun. 40 years of youth propaganda, is what I call it. Give me Swallows and Amazons any day.
Anyway, my young daughter is galloping through her collection of Mandie books this summer (Lois Gladys Leppard), and our four children have read many of the Living History books from Bethlehem Books (http://www.BethlehemBooks.com). Our 12 yr. old son just put down a reprint of Arthur Catherall’s Strange Intruder, which he loved. As I say, these days you can find any number of Vampire sagas or Harry Potter take-offs or stories based on politically correct propaganda for children and youth, but if you dig a little harder you can find the excellent stories of the 1900 – 1970 period (roughly), and be amazed at what today’s children are missing. G.H. Henty, anyone?