Adventures in Parenting

As your children grow older, can you still read together?

In my previous post, I talked about reading with your children. But reading out loud together when they reach middle school or high school doesn’t make sense.

When they reach their teens, what I do is read alongside with them the books that they read, particularly their assigned reading books from school. I check out the same book from the library.

At the dinner table, or while driving, the book gives us common ground for discussion. We talk about what we like or not like about the book, do we agree or disagree with the author, what their teacher says about the book, etc. This gives me an opportunity to guide my children in critical thinking. I want them to know that they don’t have to agree with or like everything they read, or everything their teacher teaches. Honestly, I don’t like some of the values that are being taught in those books. But it is a good educational process to be exposed to different concepts as the children grow older, as long as they are guided to think through what is being taught.

I’ve read many of those same books when I was in high school – Catcher in the Rye, Shakespeare, Catch 22. Now that there is no pressure of having to take a test or write a paper on them, it is fun to read them for pleasure. It has also forced me to read books I would not otherwise read. It’s been an educational process for me.

Reading is much better than watching TV.