reading to children

How to Celebrate World Read Aloud Day with Kids

To celebrate World Read Aloud Day, grab a book, invite a kid or two to your lap, and read.WRAD

Here’s a poem in the style of Dr. Seuss for inspiration:

TAKE IT AWAY, WORLD READ ALOUD DAY

Today, around the world, for all
Will you hear this reading call?
Will you read aloud today?
This is World Read Aloud Day!

Any favorite story or book,
New or old, take a look,
Then say the words so we can hear,
Say them, say them, loud and clear.

In a car or on a boat,
In pajamas or a coat,
On the sofa or in bed,
Say aloud the words instead.

Should you? Could you? Yes, of course.
Read aloud with lots of force.
Do not mumble neither grumble,
Whisper softly, barely speak.
Let’s read aloud in any place,
Oh yes, even outer space.

Far and near, up and down.
On the farm, and in the town.
We are reading to each other,
We are reading all together.

This is World Read Aloud Day.
Enjoy the sound of the voice,
Reading from a book of choice.
No, not one, but oh so many,

Lots and lots, we shall read plenty.
Poem and story, yarn and tale.
We’ll read aloud; we will not fail.

On a face, do you see the smile?
Come and listen for a while.
Stay right here and give your ear.
Read Aloud Day is full of cheer!

(by Barbara Allisen aka Mrs.

Fun Christmas Eve Traditions for Kids – What Are Yours?

Finally, the day is almost here and it’s time for fun Christmas Eve traditions for kids. Some might be generations old, some new and unique for your family.

fun Christmas Eve traditions for kids

Around the world, kids leave cookies and milk for Santa and a carrot for the reindeer. With eight reindeer and Rudolph, maybe they take turns eating the lone carrot. Maybe Santa shares the cookies with them or takes a few back for the elves. A tradition in our house is to leave them on a special plate the kids have colored. Since seeing this a few years ago, we use a paper plate each year and the kids use crayons and markers to decorate it with their best design for Santa.

fun Christmas Eve traditions for kids

Many Christmas Eve traditions center around food. On a radio call-in show, there were so many different ones. One family always had oyster stew and another had lasagne. Not just main dishes, but special desserts. A friend mixes pudding and whipped cream with torn bits of cake and tops it with cherry pie filling. Whether you do the same menu or a new one, kids enjoy being part of the action in the kitchen. Is there something your child can mix, stir, roll-out, or wash? Being in the kitchen with the adults means kids feel like part of the grown-up group. While we think this is work, from a child’s perspective it’s fun and they feel included.

Santa reads to kids

Opening one present of new pajamas is a tradition for many families. After reading about the “Jolabokaflod” or book flood in Iceland, we’ve decided that sounds like a tradition for our family. For a warm, cozy evening people give books on Christmas Eve, then curl up by the fireplace with the books and cups of hot chocolate. We don’t have a fireplace but can turn on the tv and watch a burning log. What better way to share and enjoy the bedtime stories.

fun Christmas Eve traditions for kids

Whatever your family does, these fun Christmas Eve traditions for kids will echo in their memories in years to come. What are yours?

Merry Christmas!

Reading Books Halloween Treat for Kids – Quite A Trick

Treats, Tricks and Magic with Halloween Books for Kids

Treats are for eating but this reading books Halloween treat is wonderful for sharing, snuggling, listening, singing, and enjoying, even the scary parts. There are so many wonderful Halloween books for kids it’s hard to decide. We mix some new ones with some old favorites.

Halloween books treat for kidsIt’s okay if a book is a little bit scary when snuggled on a lap. What sound do chickens make when they are afraid? Sandra Boynton’s Eek! Halloween tells the story of a flock of nervous chickens. The chickens see some typical Halloween sights just like we do and they feel what we do. But, we don’t usually see animals dressed up do we?

Halloween books treat for kidAnother book a teeny tiny bit scary is A Teeny Tiny Halloween by Lauren L. Wohl and Henry Cole. The text almost has its own voice. The words teeny tiny are written in very small type. When reading, we can show kids how those words are so little and whisper them. The words fall, fall, fall, are like leaves but falling on the page, not the ground. Voices can fall too.

One of the critical connections that kids need to make for learning to read is that the squiggles and lines are words, like the ones we speak. The printed words hold meaning the same way spoken ones do. This is something the brain figures out from experience, that’s why it’s so important to read lots and lots and lots of books. Reading is a daily vitamin brains need. Making cookies like the teeny tiny woman in the story would be meaningful too, for brains and tummies.

Halloween books treat for kidGet ready to read and sing the next book, The Spooky Wheels On The Bus by J. Elizabeth Mills and Ben Mantle. At Halloween, the things on the bus do not make the usual sounds nor look the same. As for the passengers, who do you think would ride a spooky, Halloween bus?

Before reading, talk about that with your child and then see if you guessed any. This gets kids really involved with the book on a personal level.

Halloween books treat for kidAnother book to sing is The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin by Sonali Fry and Sanja Rescek. A pumpkin is way too big for a water spout. Also, it has no legs to climb like a spider. How can a pumpkin move? Kids might have an idea. They could try moving like that too.

There’s a part in the book about a goblin with stinky feet. You can check your child’s feet to see if they smell. Maybe give them a tickle too. Take advantage of the opportunity when reading books to kids to play and have fun. This encourages children to develop a positive and eager attitude when it comes to books, so important for learning to read.

Halloween books treat for kidHalloween wouldn’t be the same at our house without this reading books Halloween treat: Halloween With Moris and Boris. Bernard Wiseman’s book is so well loved we’ve had to repair it multiple times. Moris the Moose doesn’t understand Halloween so Boris the Bear tries to explain. Moris still gets quite mixed up and sometimes Boris has to keep his temper. But the two friends enjoy themselves.

Your local library likely has a selection of Halloween books for kids but any titles are a reading books Halloween treat. After all, isn’t reading a sort of magical trick?

Off to School Toolbox: One-to-One Correspondence

One-to-one correspondence or one-to-one matching is another vital skill for kids to have in their learning toolbox, even if it seems easy and obvious to us. This is so critical that we don’t think of it as something kids have to learn, but what exactly is it? Basically, it’s being able to link one item … Continue reading Off to School Toolbox: One-to-One Correspondence

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #12

Cinderella Inspires a Play-of-the-Day Cinderella is another fun fairy tale that can inspire play activities, not just for girls but boys also. Glass slippers and fairy godmothers are not required. Cinderella is not much liked by her step-mother and step-sisters and has to do all the work. When the prince invites everyone to a ball, … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #12

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #11

The Princess and the Pea Play-of-the-Day Sensory stimulation and play activities are vital for young children. The story of The Princess and the Pea inspires a play-of-the-day for the sense of touch. When a stranded princess arrives at a castle, the prince and his mother who own it welcome her. The queen wants to make … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #11

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #10

The Emperor’s New Clothes Play-of-the-Day Books are important to share with children for more than just reading. Stories put clothes on bare words, unlike the emperor in the Emperor’s New Clothes. In this story, the emperor wanted to impress everyone by wearing magnificent and expensive clothing. Two clever tailors brought him some fabulous and pricey … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #10

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #9

Little Red Riding Hood Inspires Play-of-the-Day Grab a basket and we’ll go along with Little Red Riding Hood for today’s play-of-the-day to have some fun with colors, walks in the woods, and picnics. Little Red Riding Hood is sent on an errand to take some food to her grandmother who is sick in bed. Her … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #9

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #8

The Three Billy Goats Gruff Play-of-the-Day The tale of Three Billy Goats Gruff inspires a variety of fun activities for today’s play-of-the-day and encourages us to spend some time outside. Watch out for trolls! The story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff is a Norwegian folk tale. Three goats (since they are billy goats they … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #8

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #7

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Inspire Play-of-the Day Goldilocks and the Three Bears is another children’s story that can be used as a play-of-the-day inspiration. What adventures can Goldilocks have at your house? Read the Goldilocks and the Three Bears to your child or tell the story. Many children will have heard it, although not … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #7