Reading Aloud in Radically Respectful Relationships
Reading aloud in radically respectful relationships is a meaningful activity for both children and adults. Most parents have heard the advice that they should read aloud to their kids every day. But radically respectful relationships question and avoid society’s shoulds. If reading aloud feels like a should, and you still want to do it, consider some ways to make it joyful for both your child and you.
A few ideas:
Read for you! Toss the ‘best books for babies and toddlers’ lists. Instead, choose books that are fun for you to read. Early childhood is a great time to revisit your favorite novels, dive into some poetry, or read your favorite news aloud. It’s all about sharing what you love, with the added benefit of exposing your kids to cool vocabulary. ‘Age appropriate books’ are a modern day construction to try to get you to buy more books. Skip them and read what lights you up.
Read for you, part 2. Read silently to yourself. It’s good for your kids to see you read for your own pleasure. Research shows that most kids who read have parents who read for themselves. Get engrossed while your kid plays and count it as a win.
Let your kid roam. Your child does not need to be sitting or looking at the book while you read.
Take a break. Remind yourself that reading because you think you should creates a sense of obligation. Your kids feel that obligation. Frequent obligatory reading could build a negativity around reading. Take a week off and see if the obligation subsides.
Know your why. Some days, you are reading so that you can get your kid in bed. That’s okay. Own it. Reading doesn’t have to be fun or educational every time. When you own and honor your own truth, it can lift your sense of obligation and make give you a pleasant sense of accomplishment.
There’s a lot of pressure on parents to get their kids ready to read by kindergarten. Radically respectful read alouds expose that social pressure. They encourage parents to take a break from being their child’s first teacher and enjoy being themselves.
