Bedtime Stories Make Life-Long Memories...and Life-Long Readers!
October 03, 2012
What are the books you remember most from your childhood? I have a fond memory of my dad reading to us. I remember my dad being the best reader when we were getting ready to go to bed. It brings back warm fuzzies and enjoyment. Reading helps kids with their imagination, reading skills, and brings closeness between the reader and the listener. I am fond of the way my father read The Three Little Bears to us. He was also great at singing songs to us that told stories. One that is vivid in my mind is Frog Went a’ Courtin.
"A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, M-hm, M-hm.
A frog went a-courtin' and he did ride,
Sword and pistol by his side, M-hm, M-hm.
He rode up to Miss Mousie's door, M-hm, M-hm,
He rode up to Miss Mousie's door,
Where he'd often been before, M-hm, M-hm.
He said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?" M-hm, M-hm,
He said, "Miss Mouse, are you within?"
"Yes, kind sir, I sit and spin." M-hm, M-hm.
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee, M-hm, M-hm,
He took Miss Mouse upon his knee
Said "Miss Mouse, will you marry me?" M-hm, Mhm."
This delightful poem leads to one of the skills we work on incorporating into our storytimes. The 6 by 6 Program, created by the Johnson County Library, was adopted by the State Library of Kansas to promote statewide. The goal is to learn six skills by six years of age. The first skill is to "Have Fun With Books," also known as print motivation. "Children who enjoy books and are interested in them will naturally want to learn to read!"...and "If children associate reading with negative feelings, their motivation to read is diminished." So, our job as parents is to make reading enjoyable!
Here are some ways to get your child ready to read:
- Get a library card - it’s free!
- Check out books your children choose.
- Take books with you wherever you go.
- Check out books which encourage searching for objects in the illustrations.
- Involve your children in reading.
I believe I enjoy reading today because of the interaction between my dad and his love for reading and writing. I also believe that’s why I love to spread the enjoyment and make it fun during Storytime! I love books and I love Storytime!
Here are some favorites that I love to read to my own children:
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- Owl Babies by Martin Waddell
- Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin
Bethany M.
Boardwalk Branch
Comments
Bedtime Stories
Your blog brought back many memories for me, too. I can hear my dad singing that same song to me (he thought he sounded like Dean Martin and made me laugh). And reading the favorites you mentioned to my own children, who are now grown and gone. I believe that early reading is what made me love to read and I'd like to think I passed that on to my children. Thanks for all that you do!
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