Read To Your Child, Even When You're Far From Home

All educators agree that reading aloud to your children is the best way to ensure their success in school. Bedtime reading and family storytelling also help create strong emotional bonds between children and their guardians. Don't stories always sound better when read by a loving family member? But, what if travel obligations keep you far from home? What if you need to be hospitalized? What if you are a member of the armed forces and you are called to serve abroad? What if temporary work demands cause you to spend more hours in the workplace than you like, time you would rather spend with your children?

One way to keep reading to your children even when you have to be away from home is to record your children's favorite stories on an audiocassette. Although commercial tapes of children's books are available in bookstores and libraries, a recording of you reading a book or sharing great family stories will be a hundred times more meaningful to your children. They will respond not only to the warmth of your voice, but to the familiar manner in which you read the book for only you know their favorite sections, only you know the right sound effects, only you know which parts of the story should be shouted and which sentences should be whispered. And, only you can add the spoken words, "I love you," at the story's end.

Equipment - Inexpensive tape recorders and blank tapes are available everywhere. Blank tapes have a far longer recording time than commercial picture book audiocassettes, so you can easily record a number of picture book stories on one tape. If you would like to record a chapter novel for your older children, you many need more than one tape. If you have a limited budget, many public libraries have tape recorders and you may be able to use them. Do not hesitate to share your idea with the children's librarian at your neighborhood library. If taping equipment is a problem, he or she may be able to help you.

Book selection - Choose stories and books that are old family favorites. If you do not own those books you can purchase inexpensive paperback editions at your local bookstore or borrow them from your public library. The ideal situation involves your child hearing your voice read a story the same time that he or she is looking at the picture book you are reading on the tape. Also, try to record books that your child has not previously heard. Your neighborhood children's librarian will be able to suggest many new and classic children's books for you to use.

Be brave! - Don't be afraid to make mistakes, mispronounce words and character names, or use sound effects. Your verbal flubs and dramatizations will make your reading all the more human and lovable.

Remember! - Label each tape clearly as to the books you have recorded.

For older children and teens - Many chapter books are wonderful read-alouds. You can record an entire chapter book, or to encourage your child to read independently, record the first or the first few chapters of a novel, then stop reading at a fascinating point. Be sure to encourage your child to find the book at their school or public library and ask them to read themselves. Tell them that when you return home, you will share a special lunch with them and they can explain to you how the book ends. Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook, available at your local library, has many suggestions for great read-aloud chapter books and novels.

A personal finish - When you have finished recording, "The End," remember to sign off with a very personal message to your child. Whisper good-night, say a prayer, sing a lullaby, share a special family memory, or wish them a good day at school tomorrow. And say, "I love you." It is the one message we all want to hear over and over again.

Taping audiocassettes of books for children can become a wonderful community project. If you live in a community with a high percentage of people in the armed services who may be leaving to serve our nation far from home, become a literacy activist and work with your local library to help service parents tape books for their children before they are shipped overseas.

Also, there are a number of successful literacy audiocassette book programs that have been created for kids whose parents are incarcerated. The innocent victims of crimes include the children of law breakers. Become an activist in your community and help keep family dysfunction from being recycled by initiating a literacy audiocassette book program and help incarcerated parents read to their children, too. Your local public librarian can help you create a program that serves your community.

 

© 2004 Mary Brigid Barrett