Home » Reading & Literature » Children's Reading » Making Time For Story Time

Making Time For Story Time

© Heather Goldsmith

Imagine this cosy scene, if you will: The family gathers around the warm, crackling fire as mother settles, with a sigh, into her wide armchair. They inhale with anticipation and the children wriggle on their bottoms. The book opens, the spine popping from the stiff new cover. She licks one finger and turns the page with a scraping shush. All eyes are on her as the mellow voice rings out a clear, "Once upon a time..."

Sounds wonderful, doesn't it? Yet how often is the reality a far cry from the fantasy above? Reality is likely to find parents bolting down dinner, throwing water on the kids, tucking them in with a tale known by heart, usually read in fast-forward, then collapsing exhausted into bed or into a comfy chair to view the TV.

My aim is not to make you feel guilty. Every parent knows and understands that family life can be a lot more hectic than first envisioned the moment we held them in our arms. The aim of this article is, helping you find ways to make time for reading to your kids.

One way to fit in reading to your kids is as simple as it sounds. Make it a priority. If you really want to do it you might have to make a few changes. Let the dishes pile up and other housework slide. A moment spent sitting with your kids to read a new or favourite story is time well spent. You'll always have a home to tidy, but you won't always have them living in it. They'll eventually grow up and move out. Make the most it now.

Perhaps this will mean making a small sacrifice. Missing out on your favourite TV program won't affect your life over the course of a few years, but reading to your kids will. Sometimes a simple change in outlook will help. Find ways to look forward to story time yourself. Focus on the relaxation it will provide, the quality time spent with the kids, the opportunity to create life long memories.

Take an overview of your evening routine to find places to fit in story time. This is a good place to weed out other time-wasting habits your family may have fallen into. A great place to start is limiting time spent watching TV. Reading is always preferable to TV viewing. Reading aloud is an active activity, while watching TV is a passive activity. One excellent incentive I've found in getting my kids to finish chores quickly is to promise story time afterwards. This gets them moving, without fail. Try it out on your kids. You may have to incorporate reading aloud with other activities, such as, while the family does the dishes. One member can read while the others work. This could even be rostered so everyone gets a turn. Enlist willing visitors and guests into reading aloud while the family attends to chores.