READ- They love it, Naturally!

          Well, did you run out of batteries yet?  Christmas morning once again reminded me of the great strides technology has made in the last ten years.  It has also changed the world of toys.  The games my children play now are a far cry from Pac-Man, Asteroids, Lincoln-Logs, and Matchbox cars that were some of my favorites.  John Madden Football on Nintendo is better than a real NFL game, amazing.   My 10 year-old son can surf the web with the best of them and show me how to conquer kingdoms on his newest computer games.  There are some educational benefits that you can strain from this new toy- technology but it was still interesting to see that some of the favorite things they received at Christmas were books.

         I bought them, but don’t take any credit for what seems to be an intrinsic love for stories.  In my 14 years in education, nothing calms and pulls in a young child’s interest like a good book.  The vivid illustrations and imagination pulled from each page is exciting to experience.

         I was reminded of this during vacation as I was watching the new Peter Pan film with my two oldest sons.  What a wonderful story!  I remembered the first time I read the story and learned about Neverland.  It seems as vivid as yesterday.

         I know that you have heard it a million times, but the earlier (younger) you can immerse your children with literature the better.  It helps develop their language skills, vocabulary, problem solving ability, and imagination.  You will be astonished at what they pick up.

         Don’t be afraid to pull out the classics and read them at bedtime:  Tom Sawyer, The Swiss Family Robinson, etc.  Trust me; they’ll love them and so will you.  If you don’t already, I encourage you to visit the Wayland-Gunlocke Free Library.  They do a great job, are very helpful, and have a wonderful selection of children’s literature.

         It is never too late.  The New Year is a great time to get started with a new book. Make 2004 a year to remember some great moments with your child (children), as you enjoy a book together.