HOW TO READ TO KIDS TO KEEP THEM LISTENING AND ENGAGED

 One of the most common things I hear when speaking to parents is that their kids lose interest when they try to read to them. If you have experienced this, know that you aren't alone! It does not make you a bad homeschooling parent or indicate that your child doesn't know how to listen and concentrate. Be encouraged that with a little tweak here & there, reading can be an enjoyable time for all.

During the foundation phase, your child is still mostly dependent on you to read the content that they need to work through. Many times, there aren't pictures to keep their attention. Here follows a few tips on to read so that they not only listen & stay engaged BUT also retain what they hear.

 Tips to bring LIFE into your Reading & Teaching

Physical Changes

• Have a snack box: This is a life-saver, especially when a child is still quite young, but it will certainly work for any age. Before you start with your teaching/reading, give a snack box (not filled with sugary goodies). This keeps their mouth & hands busy AND helps to ensure they don't have "dips" in blood sugar because they are hungry.
• Allow for leg room: It your reading piece is quite long & you want to engage your child in a discussion as well, why not get comfy? If you have a carpet, allow your child to sit there while listening. They can stretch their legs, move about, have space to express themselves etc. One doesn't need to sit still on a hard chair to learn. My favourite place to read to my kids is on the carpet with a coffee in hand!
• Topic related activities: This may not work for all kids, but will definitely help some to concentrate. While you read, allow your child to draw what you are reading about or even just doddle, or they can make something out of blocks or lego or some other quiet activity. Your kinesthetic learner, also referred to as your tactile or physical learner, will benefit greatly from this while they listen.

Technique Changes

• Paraphrasing: This is definitely one skill that works when your children are still young & don't have the capacity to listen to long paragraphs of content. One becomes better at it as you go along, so don't despair if it doesn't come naturally at first. Essentially it is when you quickly scan the page, pick up on a few keywords, read a few sentences and then expand on it in your own words. Make eye contact with your child between the points raised. Use pauses before expanding on each idea & ask questions to keep your child engaged.
• Facial & physical Expression: You may not notice it, but while you have your eyes looking down at a page, your child is looking at you. Use your facial expressions & hand gestures to keep them engaged. Read with your "whole being".  It may feel a little unnatural at first but it will become second nature as you see the rewards. You may be asking, "How can I be expressive while reading about rocks?!" Not all reading content lends itself to expression. This is when you can include your child. Pose questions, ask for their opinions or reflection, let them act out a concept etc. If you are animated about the content, they'll soon catch on.
• Use your voice & breathing: Our voice is a powerful tool & there are so many ways to convey a message. You can use your voice's pitch & volume to relate to what is being read e.g. using a soft, higher pitch when referring to something delicate, small or to announce upcoming importance - like you're just about to say something VERY important. You can also use a sudden change in volume or pitch when you see you are losing their attention. Pauses are also very effective to either bring home a point, grab attention or just give time to let a concept settle. You can also be aware of your phrasing when you read - where do you breath?Listening to someone who phrases well, helps to keep attention as well as grasp what is being said.
• Be authentic: there is nothing worse than listening to someone who has no interest in what they are reading! If you are sincerely fascinated and engaged yourself with the content then it will be very difficult for your child not to be. Be authentic when you pause and ask questions. Sincerely want to know what your child's view or understanding is - not just to see if they are listening or understand something but to really want to be interested in their answer. Give you own interpretation as well and be excited about when you've learnt something new. Laugh when something is funny. Show emotion. Use expressions to show your own interaction with the content. Not only does this help your child stay engaged but you as well!

If you are struggling to keep your child's attention, start by implementing just one or two points. It won't be to long before you'll be reading like a pro.

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