Life is busy. There’s work, responsibilities around the house, church, and schedules overflowing with school and sporting events. What little free time remains is often consumed by technology – television, smart phones, and gaming systems.
All of which means we are, by and large, experiencing life near our children, but less and less with our children.
Unfortunately, one of the activities getting squeezed out is reading. Studies show that less and less parents are reading to their children – an indication that many moms and dads don’t realize the role this activity plays in creating a bond between children and their parents.
Reading together brings comfort to both parent and child in hard seasons of life. When parents pull a child onto their lap and open the pages of a book, it’s like taking each other by the hand and walking through a quiet, colorful garden in the center of a noisy, polluted city. It brings true rest and togetherness.
I’m talking with author, podcaster and speaker Sarah Mackenzie on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly about how to make summer memorable and fun by reading aloud as a family. She explains:
- How reading out loud can improve your relationships with your children.
- What reading out loud teaches your children.
- Why parents don’t read outloud to their kids.
- How to set yourself up for success by intentionally making room for reading – even when you’re busy.
- How to pick the right books.
Don’t forget that Focus on the Family has great resources for you to read to your kids. Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. are our two award-winning magazines for children. They’re packed with stories about ordinary kids who experience exciting, and often hilarious, adventures and do extraordinary things for God. These two resources will reinforce traditional values and ignite your kids’ faith.
Also, go to PluggedIn to find reviews of books and other kinds of media to help protect your kids from negative entertainment influences.