One of my favorite things to do with our kids is to read to them. We read pretty much every morning before breakfast while we're waking up. We read in the afternoon if we get a chance while baby is sleeping. We read again at bedtime with Daddy. We read a variety of books, from baby board books for little girl (first, until she loses interest). Then we move onto little kid easy books (for J, who is 3) like Little Golden Books. We then read more chapter type books, which lately have been the original Winnie the Pooh books. I don't play well with my kids (maybe because they always want me to zoom cars or chug trains around and to me that is extremely mundane), so reading is my way of opening their world. I do enjoy playing Legos or Lincoln Logs with them, or Hide and Go Seek and such games, but just sitting there on the floor playing gets me more thinking of what I should be doing instead of staying tuned into the toys at hand "what should I make for supper?" "I should get the kitchen counter cleaned off before supper" "0h, this carpet needs vacuuming"...
So, reading seems the best solution, in my opinion, to spending time with my kids, encouraging creative thought, as well as the cuddle time they get when they are sitting on my lap or beside me. Our TV is almost out of a job, since we rarely even can find time to turn it on. But, I am thankful to have it, since we do need it now and then to keep the kids occupied if there is a sick baby, or am sick myself, or for a special treat. I find that the more my kids watch it though, the more disobedient they become. Somehow they think that they own the world, if they've been given TV time.
Our society has lost it's love for the English language, the proper use of it, so that we can't even read or comprehend at adult level (thus the problem even understanding much of the Bible, which is extremely sad). So, let's do our kids a favor, and focus on bringing up the language standard (instead of dumbing down the books), in the cheapest and easiest way possible- by reading daily to our kids. Keep on reading to them even once they learn to read on their own. Read books that stimulate their thoughts, develop their imaginations, develop character by learning what other children did in difficult situations (trusted in God), and improve their comprehension (by reading books that are above their reading level), not just silly time wasting books that really don't teach anything.
Another article I recently read said that we should follow the Biblical standard when choosing books to read to our children (and ourselves). (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. I do believe there is much healthy fiction that teaches character, strength, trust in God, etc., so focusing our book choices on those things would be beneficial in so many ways, rather than goofy books that don't teach much at all, and then make reading the Bible boring to children (thus all the goofy Bible stories these days, trying to hold the kids interest). The Bible stories in themselves are amazing, there is no need to "spice them up" by adding cartoon characters or dramatic additions!
This is one of my favorite blogs overall, but this is a wonderful article stating the importance of reading to our children, in so many ways. Check out this article. Awesome!
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/06/read-aloud-the-best-education.html
So, reading seems the best solution, in my opinion, to spending time with my kids, encouraging creative thought, as well as the cuddle time they get when they are sitting on my lap or beside me. Our TV is almost out of a job, since we rarely even can find time to turn it on. But, I am thankful to have it, since we do need it now and then to keep the kids occupied if there is a sick baby, or am sick myself, or for a special treat. I find that the more my kids watch it though, the more disobedient they become. Somehow they think that they own the world, if they've been given TV time.
Our society has lost it's love for the English language, the proper use of it, so that we can't even read or comprehend at adult level (thus the problem even understanding much of the Bible, which is extremely sad). So, let's do our kids a favor, and focus on bringing up the language standard (instead of dumbing down the books), in the cheapest and easiest way possible- by reading daily to our kids. Keep on reading to them even once they learn to read on their own. Read books that stimulate their thoughts, develop their imaginations, develop character by learning what other children did in difficult situations (trusted in God), and improve their comprehension (by reading books that are above their reading level), not just silly time wasting books that really don't teach anything.
Another article I recently read said that we should follow the Biblical standard when choosing books to read to our children (and ourselves). (Philippians 4:8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. I do believe there is much healthy fiction that teaches character, strength, trust in God, etc., so focusing our book choices on those things would be beneficial in so many ways, rather than goofy books that don't teach much at all, and then make reading the Bible boring to children (thus all the goofy Bible stories these days, trying to hold the kids interest). The Bible stories in themselves are amazing, there is no need to "spice them up" by adding cartoon characters or dramatic additions!
This is one of my favorite blogs overall, but this is a wonderful article stating the importance of reading to our children, in so many ways. Check out this article. Awesome!
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/06/read-aloud-the-best-education.html
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