Summer gives our children more time to explore the world on their terms, rather than our terms. This is important: each child has a unique perspective on the world which must be encouraged and allowed to develop. At the same time, we want to give our children the necessary skills to make sense of the world around us.
The greatest gift we can give our children over the summer is our time. It is also the most difficult. Many of us are raising children on our own; working one (or sometimes two) jobs; caring for our parents as well as our children; or coping with shift work. However, one of the most relaxing activities we can spend with our children is to read with them, especially when we decompress at the end of the day. The more we read to them, the more eager they will be to read for themselves.
Here, in no particular order, are the titles of some of our favourite read-alouds from kindergarten. You can find them at the local library, which will order them for you if they don't have themselves. Do not expect your child to be able to read the stories themselves - but after a year of kindergarten, your child will be familiar with the stories and able to recognize certain words.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka
The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood
Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones
Thomas's Snowsuit by Robert Munsch
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Peter Spier
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Snow Paws by Mary Alice Downie
The Snow Cat by Dayal Kaur Khalsa
The Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley
These are just a few titles out of hundreds of wonderful childrens' books. The most important part of reading to a child is your own enthusiasm. Choose stories that you yourself enjoy - reading aloud has to be a pleasure for the reader as well as the listener!
Happy reading this summer!
The greatest gift we can give our children over the summer is our time. It is also the most difficult. Many of us are raising children on our own; working one (or sometimes two) jobs; caring for our parents as well as our children; or coping with shift work. However, one of the most relaxing activities we can spend with our children is to read with them, especially when we decompress at the end of the day. The more we read to them, the more eager they will be to read for themselves.
Here, in no particular order, are the titles of some of our favourite read-alouds from kindergarten. You can find them at the local library, which will order them for you if they don't have themselves. Do not expect your child to be able to read the stories themselves - but after a year of kindergarten, your child will be familiar with the stories and able to recognize certain words.
Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka
The Napping House by Audrey and Don Wood
Zoom at Sea by Tim Wynne-Jones
Thomas's Snowsuit by Robert Munsch
The Fox Went Out on a Chilly Night by Peter Spier
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Snow Paws by Mary Alice Downie
The Snow Cat by Dayal Kaur Khalsa
The Dirty Cowboy by Amy Timberlake
I Ain't Gonna Paint No More by Karen Beaumont
Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley
These are just a few titles out of hundreds of wonderful childrens' books. The most important part of reading to a child is your own enthusiasm. Choose stories that you yourself enjoy - reading aloud has to be a pleasure for the reader as well as the listener!
Happy reading this summer!
