Why We Hold On to Reading at Bedtime

3 reasons that motivate us. Plus, our curated books for Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month. Learn better. Play smarter. | [View this email in your browser]( Parenting made simpler. Written by experts. Designed for intentional parents. Be a Plinkit Pro Thank you for reading! This newsletter is made possible through Plinkit Pro membership support. Please consider being a [PLINKIT PRO]( if you aren't already, to enjoy access to all our expert guidance and events. Membership support allows us to keep bringing you time-saving and practical child development insights. Or, [email us](mailto:hello@myplinkit.com) to find out how your entire school or workplace can benefit from [PLINKIT PRO.]( [BE A PLINKIT PRO]( Why We Hold On to Reading at Bedtime Countless studies prove the benefits of reading aloud with our children (even as they grow older). The Good Childhood Report shows that the happiest children come from families that read for fun on most days. Yet, after a long day, amidst the hullabaloo of that bedtime routine, reading aloud is often one of the first things to get short-changed. We totally get it. Our Plinkit families are filled with little ones too, and we have to intentionally work at reminding ourselves to not let go of that reading aloud time -- and sometimes that's easier said than done. Why do we keep at it? Here's our three primary reasons: - Connection, connection, connection - That connection time is golden. That magic of being together, doing something together. It’s what keeps that parent-child tether strong, which is especially helpful when dealing with tricky behavior like defiance, sassy language, first-time listening, lying or discipline. - It's an opening where your child can ask you about things they’re observing, not just in the book, but in their daily lives. It’s a window into their thought bubbles, especially when it’s about empathy, upstanding and racism. - [Empathy]( is a learned skill and it doesn’t come naturally for many children. Books are an entry point for exploring feelings. - [Upstanding]( is one of those topics that often gets taught after-the-fact. Books provide an easy way to proactively role-play "What could you do?" - [Racism]( continues to feel hard to broach for many families. Books are a launching pad to help your child navigate their own curiosity and interest, learn from those who have successfully advocated for racial fairness and appreciate the scale of the world’s diversity. - Critical thinking - Reading aloud is naturally infused with developing that life skill of learning how to ask questions. Research proves that[children learn more when actively engaged in a dialogue or interaction.]( (Children do not learn language as well from passive language exposure.) - All that back-and-forth interaction provides an easy opportunity to experiment with higher order questions on analyzing, evaluating and creating. Key takeaway: If you’re able to, make reading aloud a habit. For those with independent readers, encourage them to read aloud to you. Keep reading below for why, and what to listen for when your child reads aloud to you. For those with pre-readers, we’ve also included our favorite resources below to support your child’s pre-literacy skills and how to help your child find a just-right book for themselves. (Pro tip: Learning letter sounds is different from learning [letter names]( and different from [learning to write]( For inspiration, try [our curated books in celebration of Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month.]( PLINKIT POST [Why Reading Aloud is Important to Reading Comprehension]( The benefits of reading aloud to your child and encouraging them to read aloud independently (even as they get older). [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fread-aloud-children-reading-comprehension-strategies-raise-a-reader%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [How to Read Aloud and Increase Your Child's Comprehension]( How to read aloud to your child, listen to your child read aloud and help your child use metacognition strategies to advance their reading comprehension. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2020%2F11%2Fhow-to-read-aloud-children-reading-comprehension-raise-a-reader%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [How to Ask Meaningful Stories During Story Time]( A tip sheet (printable!) for infusing questions that increase your child’s critical thinking and curiosity when you read aloud. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2018%2F02%2Fincrease-critical-thinking-curiosity-read-aloud%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [A Montessori Approach to Learning Language]( How to apply the unique Montessori approach to your daily routine. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2019%2F02%2Fa-montessori-approach-how-to-encourage-language-learning%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [Practice Reading and Writing with a Salt/Sand Try]( A staple in many classrooms that's easy (and fun!) to do at home. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20https%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2017%2F08%2Fpractice-letters-numbers-fine-motor-skills-salt-tray%2F) [Share]( PLINKIT POST [Essential Concepts to Know When Your Child is Learning to Read]( A simple primer for parents that outlines the mechanics of what it means to learn to read. [READ MORE]( [Forward](mailto:?subject=Something%20Interesting%20from%20Plinkit&body=I%20found%20this%20Plinkit%20article%20interesting%20and%20thought%20you%20would%20too.%20Check%20it%20out%3A%20%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fmyplinkit.com%2F2020%2F05%2Fwhen-your-child-is-learning-to-read-essential-concepts%2F) [Share]( READ + SHARE [The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!]( To all the brave voices out there that give us the courage to sing, this one’s for you! A read-aloud crowd pleaser. [BUY NOW]( READ + SHARE [Mice and Beans]( Playful with sweet artwork. Full of dialogue and drama to practice fluency and reading with expression. Excellent for an emerging reader. [BUY MORE]( READ + SHARE [My Name is Gabriela]( A joy to read and beloved by our Plinkit teachers. A beautifully illustrated story about Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. Children of all ages will love her poetry. [BUY NOW]( Learn better. Play smarter. 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