Nathalie Bowman
Well, things got away from me this week as I began homeschooling and going back to school myself, so somehow I didn’t give myself enough time to create a thoughtful and meaningful “Part 1” to follow up last week’s post. Please forgive me – that will be coming next week. For today I want to share with you one of my family’s favorite books.
We love to read together. When our oldest four children were young, and our family was growing, I would sit and read to my children for hours. Never underestimate the power your children have to love listening & learning while you read to them! While I read, my children do fun activities that don’t make much noise in order to keep their hands occupied. Little ones need movement, and I have never required my children to sit still while I read to them. They color mandalas, build with legos or other blocks, do their phonics workbooks, math facts, play with cars, etc. Sometimes, in good weather, we go out on the grass in the front yard, sit on a blanket, and eat popcorn while we read together. Children are capable of absorbing the story while playing and doing other things. Give it a try! Reading is a wonderful way to create family memories, traditions, and a love of learning together.
One of our all time family favorite books is “Little Britches” by Ralph Moody. It’s an autobiography of his childhood and many challenges, adventures, and family bonding. Ralph’s father is a very wise man who teaches Ralph some valuable lessons such as “my character house”. Ralph’s mother is a woman who gives much to her children and takes pride in her children and loves them deeply. Ralph is 8 years old when the book begins, and there are 7 more books that follow him into adulthood as he becomes influential as an entrepreneur and has many powerful life lessons and crazy adventures to share! We have learned so much from Ralph and his family, and every time we read these books we enjoy them more.
Happy Reading!