My Sister

This is a sad situation. Reading to a child is a gift. It helps their creativity, their imagination and let's be real, it makes them smarter in the long run. Children who are not exposed to books or any sort of reading material are behind when it comes to social situations. It teaches them to sit quietly and to learn to LISTEN. I cannot believe that a mother of two does not have a single book in her home. We have so many from when my children were small and some of those first books are favorites to this day. How can anyone NOT want to read a great Dr. Suess book to their children. Speak with your sister and tell her the advantages of reading to a child and tell her the absolute DISADVANTAGES of not reading to a child. In this day and age, if your child is already behind when they start kindergarten or even first grade, chances are they will not have the opportunity to get that "extra" help because of the sizes that classrooms have become. Look at the joy children experience when listening to a great children's book. Have her read all of your responses, let's see how she feels then.

I think the best thing you could do is to just keep reading to her kids and try to teach them that books are for reading and looking at, not coloring in and tearing up. If you bring it up with her as a "flaw" in her parenting skills, she'll just resent it and possibly see it as you trying to tell her that you're a better mother than she is which could not only hurt your relationship with her, but with her kids as well.

Hi J.,
I know the feeling, My mom NEVER bought books and my brother and I suffered tremendously, I didnt realize how important it is to read to your kids, I grew up just believing I was dumb, I couldnt really read until I started buying books for my son when he was born,I started out Reading Dr. Seuss which was a struggle, I made a commitment to always have a large variety of books and kids magazines around the house and I also print off cute things off the Net for me and my son to read before bed that bonds us, gives us something to talk about and is short so he doesnt realize I'm tricking him into doing more reading than what is required at school. I bought Hooked on Phonex for over 300 dollars when he was starting out because I thought he'd have the same struggle with reading as I did growning up, thats when I realized that the only reason I struggled Is not because I was dumb and couldnt catch on, but because I was never exposed to it. anyhow, I ended up giving my brother my expensive purchase of Hooked on Phonex to use on his daughter, he gave it to his daughters mother and she sold it on e-bay, now her daughter is struggling in reading and I see my brother and my niece having the same inseurities and beliefs that I had growing up, that we are dumb and cant learn, I'm so sad for that, so I buy books for her to keep at my brothers house, I try to never tell him what to do, rather I share my own experiance of what it was like for me and how I feared my son would be the same way and how I was so mistaken and what its like now. I feel in my heart thats all I can do, and of corse just keeping buying educatioal gifts for Birthdays, Christmas, and Easter, A great gift for the kids that doesnt require a parent necessarly is the Leap Pad, where kids point the pen to the words and the leap pad reads to them, or maybe give her kids a subscribition to Highlights for Children as a gift, you can tell her that it was only a little bit more money with the subscription of your own magazine. I'm sure there's more educational toys out there too that could help the child, maybe keep your eyes open. I did have an aunt that always read to me growing up and I will always remember her for that, we still talk to this day about how much that meant to me and how I want to pass that along to other children when they come over to my house. I think I hit a point in my childhood where I really wanted to read but the resources wern't there so I did what I could, I even stole a book of the Book-mobile and read it so many times I had it memorized, It was the only book I owned growning up, but it still wasnt enough and I fell behind, so I lost interest totally out of imbarrasement and decided it was easier to just hate reading, now I'm 34 years old and am finally realizing more than ever that I Love Reading, I never thought I would but I do, and I read books, Big Books! Its So Great, I Just think its so awesome that you care.
Good Luck on your Decision and with what ever happens.

I would suggest buying them the book & tape combos. That way they can listen as it's read & follow along, even if mom doesn't. My kids really loved the book & cd (for the computer)combos. They could read the book both on the computer and on paper. The cd's usually have games & activities, too. It might get them excited about reading. Good luck!

Keep reading to the kids when you see them! It is wonderful that you are introducing the wonderful world of books to them. Maybe you could bring them a book to keep the next time you visit. Even if the kids can't read, they can look at the pictures. It may be just enough to spark an intrest in them too. Maybe once your sister sees they enjoy being read to, she will sit down with them more and read. Or give the children a tape with you reading a book to them, give them the book to follow along. You can buy these too, but I bet they would really love it if Auntie were the one reading on the tape!

Good Luck!
K.

Hi J.. I know you posted this a while back, but wanted to share a website with you. Keep reading to them and take them to the library and I know Barnes and Noble also does a storytime. I am a stallholder (representative) for Barefoot Books. They are a smaller, independent children's book publisher. They have fantastic stories for children and the art work is amazing!!! I wouldn't have gotten involved with this company if I hadn't been so impressed with their mission and the quality of their books. Please check out the website and see for yourself. You can contact me if you have any questions.
J. Haile/Barefoot Books
www.mybarefootbooks.com/JaimeHaile
____@____.com

one of the moms recommended the fisher price books. My 4 year old has two and he loved them you put the books in and turn the pages and it reads to them. About the sister... This may sound harsh but maybe you should just tell her. It doesnt matter if she likes to read if she loves her kids and wants them to excel in life she needs to sit down with them and read a book. They will be behind thier whole life if she continues on this path. As parent there are allot of things you do that you dont like so your kids can be better. If it were my sister I would just tell her out right no beating around the bush I am sure she will be angry but it will stay with her and give her something to think about.

All I can recomend is board books that can't be ripped, and keep reading in your time. I agree that reading is really important. Unfortunatly not all parents feel the same way. Perhaps if she won't read to them you could talk to her about getting them into preschool at a young age. Atleast then they would still get some heads up.

H.

http://wisemommy.fourpointmoms.com