The Biggest Mistake When Reading Aloud With Your Child....

The ONLY mistake you can make when reading aloud to your child….

Is simple NOT reading aloud to your child. 

If you've selected a books, set aside time and intentionally sat down to read aloud - you're doing exactly the right thing. 

The best thing! 

The #1 thing you can do as a parent to support the fostering of your child's lifelong positive relationship with reading!

My first job as a teacher was as a daily substitute. 

I was on the list for 5 or 6 different towns and each day I would arrive at a new district, new school, new grade level and be left in charge of getting a new group of 20-25 kids I had never met from 8:30 until 3:05. 

And it didn't take long before I learned that there was one thing I could always rely on if things got…..overwhelming….or if a planned activity didn't land….

I always knew, I could call the kids to the rug for a read aloud and somehow…it was like magic!

Whether I was in Kindergarten or a 5th grade classroom - I knew if I picked up a book and started reading - the kids would settle and I would have their captive attention. 

It didn't have to be perfect - 

It didn't even have to be a book all the kids loved…or even liked….

Just the simple act of relaxing and listening seemed to do the trick! 

Reading aloud was truly, powerful! 

Here are just a few pieces of research (you know I love reading research!) to support what I had seen before my own eyes: 

Children who are read to at least 3 times a week have almost twice the vocabulary of children who are read to less often. (National Center for Education Statistics)

The number of words a child hears before kindergarten is directly linked to their later reading success. Children from print-rich, read-aloud homes may hear 30 million more words by age 4 compared to peers. (Hart & Risley, 1995)

Regular read-aloud time is one of the strongest predictors of later academic achievement—more than socioeconomic status or parents’ education level. (OECD, PISA study)

✨ Big takeaway for today?…

Reading aloud just 10–15 minutes a day can give kids a huge vocabulary boost, prepare them for school success, and strengthen family relationships—all with ripple effects that last a lifetime.

Happy reading (aloud!)

Ms. Schelzi