Not Raising Dummies

We’re in the car a lot, like most families are.  We have the ubiquitous DVD player, but I often feel guilty that the kids are exposed to that type of media so frequently and that it has no educational value for the most part (the exception being the Leap Frog Videos that have taught my kids their letter sounds and numbers, go buy those.)

What DOES makes kids smart is listening to stories being read to them.  Books on tape.  Reading to kids accesses:

1. More logical thinking skills. Another illustration of the importance of reading to children is their ability to grasp abstract concepts, apply logic in various scenarios, recognize cause and effect, and utilize good judgment. As your toddler or preschooler begins to relate the scenarios in books to what’s happening in his own world, he’ll become more excited about the stories you share.
2. Enhanced concentration and discipline. Toddlers may initially squirm and become distracted during story time, but eventually they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book. Along with reading comprehension comes a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when she enters school.

Well if you’re like me the time you have scheduled to read to your kids is right before bed when everybody is tired and I am grumpy.  I am also so tired of all the books we have. 

I’ve found a few solutions that work for me and my kids and your kids if they’re in my car.  The Mormon Channel App is free and has every Friend magazine read aloud with new ones available every month.  But that app is kinda finicky and hard to be sure the kids are going to engage.  If I’m going to put on a story for them I want to make sure it’s going to catch their attention quickly.

I’ve switched to searching on YouTube which has an endless supply of children’s books read aloud and songs.  The books are usually 5-8 mins long.  My kids LOVE Bill Harley.   He may be old news to some moms but we just discovered him this year and his stories are so beloved by my minions that Mimi is being a Skunk for Halloween, with pride.

 

After the stories I ask them basic comprehension questions about the beginning middle and end, why the author wrote the story, what advice they’d give the characters, and other very specific questions that demonstrate their retention and synthesis. 

Nearly every teacher is taught Bloom’s Taxonomy before they’re put in the classroom.  It basically means that people learn and understand in levels/stages starting at the bottom of the pyramid.  If you’re a parent intent on developing critical thinking skills in your kid you should know and apply this:

Here’s how you apply the Taxonomy.  Ask questions about the stories the kids like by using the words on the right:

 

So next time you’re in the car click through some of these and feel proud of yourself for enhancing your child’s logical thinking skills and concentration!   

Here are our family favorites.  Click, plug in and listen!

Bill Harley “You’re Not the Boss of Me”

This is a good one for Fairy Tales Classics:

I usually search for classic nursery rhymes and tales because this is the literature of childhood.  Your kid needs to know nursery rhymes and fairy tales (beyond Disney, beyond the cheap Barbie movies we all own from Target) because they are a major literary source and reference useful for the rest of their lives.  Part of our cultural parlance is heavily based on stories your kids should be learning that you and I often take for granted.  Newspapers refer to “Humpty Dumpty Economics” and “Crying Wolf” and even old Eliot Spitzer was linked with the Emporer’s New Clothing.  Stock markets claim the “Sky is Falling.”  

Peter Rabbit.  All of those Beatrix Potter books are SO LONG.

My other favorite choices are those books that have too much damn writing for me to sit for 25 minutes reading one stinking book.  Oh, don’t tell me I’m the only one who avoids the Berenstein freaking Bears some nights. 

And, of course, you can always find primary songs. 

Oh, and if you’re reading more advanced things, I’ve found the Wizard of Oz read aloud on there and Harry Potter.  I think this girl is pretty good!

“Read” to those kids.  It makes them smarter.  From one lazy tired mother to another.  XXOXOX