March 2nd is Dr. Seuss’s birthday. It is also celebrated as Read Across America
Day in many of our schools.
I must admit, “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish”
was one of the first books our boys learned to read. It was a fun rhyming book, and not too
difficult (after it had been read to you a few times). I must also admit, some of those books are
tongue twisters. “Fox in Socks”, whew,
you have to read that one slowly. Of
course, The Cat in the Hat is a classic, fun story (and movie) that most
children have had read to them.
Dr. Seuss wrote over 60 children’s books. His first one was “To Think That I Saw It On
Mulberry Street.” He also wrote books,
like “Wacky Wednesday,” under the name Theo LeSieg.
Did you know there are a couple of other authors who
write in the same rhyming style as Dr. Seuss?
·
Robert Lopshire wrote “Put Me In the Zoo” and a few
more.
·
P.D. Eastman wrote “Go Dogs Go” and many more.
Back in September, we
put in our monthly eNewsletter information on the importance of reading to
children. Here’s a snippet…
A bedtime story was
always part of the bedtime routine for our kids (two boys, now grown with
children of their own). We started by
reading to them, then we transitioned into reading “together” and then they
read to us. I think we stopped this when
they got into middle school, but they continued to read at night, and both have
a love of reading to this day.
As recently as this
spring, research studies are being done and concluding that reading gives
children a fantastic head start in language, literacy and social skills. See… http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/infant-reading-aloud-young-children-benefits-brain-development/ It’s
a great “bonding” time with your child, as well.
If you haven’t been
reading with your children, you still can make it a routine.
Reading together
doesn’t have to be at bedtime. It can be
anytime like… before or after dinner, or first thing in the morning (if you are
an early bird). After school may not be
the best time, as they may want to talk about their day, but if it works for
your family, by all means do it then.
If you have an interest in receiving our monthly
eNewsletter, you can sign up in the right hand column of our web page.
In honor of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, I have posted “One
Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish” to the Miss Pam Reads
YouTube channel. Check it out, with your
kids!
*Pam is a certified Parenting Coach, in the Raleigh area.
