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Have you ever thought you were not a good reader? Are you worried your kids don’t enjoy reading and there is nothing you can do about it? It’s time to read great books that your kids will love! Reading out loud with your children will change their lives and change the culture of your family. 

Carole Joy Seid and I spent some time talking about homeschooling and how to give your children a passion for reading. What I learned from chatting with Carole is that we are all homeschooling our kids. It’s just a matter of how many hours in the day. So, ask yourself: What are your children learning from you? Are they learning to love books?

I was inspired by the idea of surrounding your kids with great books, taking them to the library consistently, and getting them outside in nature. I was challenged to share my excitement for reading with my kids—because they will pick up on it—and make reading with them special by choosing the right time and the most comfortable chair. Carole shared encouraging stories of how reading as a family helps children grow up to be smart, successful, and godly.

Reading great books benefits our children—the relationship we have with them, their character development and problem-solving skills, and their ability to grow in social intelligence and maturity.

There are four things you need to do to develop passionate readers in your family:

Surround them with Great Books – Find books you and your kids will love reading. Go to the library regularly and check out the classics, while avoiding books that contradict the biblical worldview. Build a library in your own home, and make reading a favorite activity. Whether you homeschool or not, reading can still be central to learning in your house.

Read Out Loud – Start with simple books like Hop on Pop, and read aloud with your children. Share your excitement for reading with them by pointing to the pictures, asking questions, and allowing them to read certain parts on their own.

Be a Reader – Develop your own enjoyment and love of reading. Make a list of books you want to read in the next month and the next year. Model for your kids how to be a good reader who thinks more deeply about things because of what you read.

Unplug – Get the screens out of your home. When the screens are gone, the battle is over. It will be a hard sacrifice, but as research shows, the results are incredible. Your family culture will change. Your children will play outside more, build things, and create things. You will spend more time as a family.

If you need encouragement in teaching your children, whether it’s homeschooling or just raising godly kids, Carole Joy Seid’s interview is definitely one you don’t want to miss. If you are worried about raising your kids to be intelligent and Christlike, remember that God is for you and your family, and there are people and resources ready to help you. You can do this!

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Surround your children with great books
  • Read out loud with your children
  • Unplug your children

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Related Resources: 

 

Other Stuff to Check Out

Let’s Talk!

  1. Even if you are not homeschooling your children, what are they learning from you? Are they picking up a love of reading? 
  2. What books are you reading now? What books do you want to read in the next year?
  3. How might you need to unplug from the media in your life?

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