Getting kids (almost 3 and almost 5) to actually listen to books being read

[Anonymous]

Problem #1: They are more interested in dogpiling on each other or wandering away, talking loudly over me, etc. There seems to be little (sustained) interest.
Problem #2: End of the day is the worst time of day. DH often works evening shift so I am pretty spent after doing bedtime without help and they tend to get a second wind of energy and are bouncing off the walls.

More days than not have no screens. There are no personal tablet screens at all.

Suggestions? I SAH. I am not above bribery, sticker charts, etc.

[Anonymous]

Do this select the books or do your children? It might be you aren’t selecting books that interest them or are too long. Try having them select some at the library and see how that goes.

It goes without saying you need to have a routine and expectations for their behavior. They don’t follow the rules, you stop reading until they are ready to try again.

[Anonymous]

Some suggestions: 1) read to them in the bathtub if they bathe together. 2) tell them they can stay up later if they sit quietly for books. One warning and they’re crazy, lights out. Be consistent.

Stay strong with the little to no screens! It’s worth it!!

[Anonymous]

Are you sure they aren't listening even though they aren't sitting still? I'd probably try one-on-one reading to get them used to your expectations if you want them to sit still.

There no rule that you have to read at night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do this select the books or do your children? It might be you aren’t selecting books that interest them or are too long. Try having them select some at the library and see how that goes.

It goes without saying you need to have a routine and expectations for their behavior. They don’t follow the rules, you stop reading until they are ready to try again.

I have walked out. They couldn't care less. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some suggestions: 1) read to them in the bathtub if they bathe together. 2) tell them they can stay up later if they sit quietly for books. One warning and they’re crazy, lights out. Be consistent.

Stay strong with the little to no screens! It’s worth it!!

Maybe some kind of sensory activity?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure they aren't listening even though they aren't sitting still? I'd probably try one-on-one reading to get them used to your expectations if you want them to sit still.

There no rule that you have to read at night.

They are yelling over me, playing with each other, bouncing on my lap. Pretty sure they're not listening.

I'm trying to visualize when in our day I can structure reading time. I call the day the train, once your coffee is done it feels like it whizzes by until they are in bed

[Anonymous]

Are they perhaps too tired, OP? Please don't make it unpleasant for them - your efforts will backfire.

My kids were always quiet and reasonably attentive during reading time, BUT I didn't read to them every night. Only occasionally, as a special treat, when I was energetic enough to do all the voices, some acting, and make it into a whole production

Honestly I don't find it educational to read every night to young kids. I'm a bookworm, and my kids are bookworms. Both were able to read Harry Potter books in Kindergarten, so not reading every day didn't hurt them. I think the biggest factor in getting them to love reading was that they saw ME enjoy my own books! I also taught them to read instead of waiting for overworked public school teachers to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some suggestions: 1) read to them in the bathtub if they bathe together. 2) tell them they can stay up later if they sit quietly for books. One warning and they’re crazy, lights out. Be consistent.

Stay strong with the little to no screens! It’s worth it!!

Maybe some kind of sensory activity?

I was going to ask what do they like such as trucks and dins a book that comes with a truck or there are LEGO/DUPLO books.

[Anonymous]

You are home with all day long and the only time you read to them is at bedtime? That seems odd to me. Read to them in the morning, read to them when you take them to the library (you take them to the library, right??), read to them while they're eating breakfast or lunch, read to them before or after nap time. I mean, ANY TIME, OP. Geez!

Also, where are you getting books and what are you reading them? At those ages, my kids LOVED books. There are so many amazing options!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are home with all day long and the only time you read to them is at bedtime? That seems odd to me. Read to them in the morning, read to them when you take them to the library (you take them to the library, right??), read to them while they're eating breakfast or lunch, read to them before or after nap time. I mean, ANY TIME, OP. Geez!

Also, where are you getting books and what are you reading them? At those ages, my kids LOVED books. There are so many amazing options!

They dont nap
They run around the library
I have thought about reading at breakfast but I seem to barely keep on top of the requests for more milk etc. It would be literally 5 minutes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are home with all day long and the only time you read to them is at bedtime? That seems odd to me. Read to them in the morning, read to them when you take them to the library (you take them to the library, right??), read to them while they're eating breakfast or lunch, read to them before or after nap time. I mean, ANY TIME, OP. Geez!

Also, where are you getting books and what are you reading them? At those ages, my kids LOVED books. There are so many amazing options!

They dont nap
They run around the library
I have thought about reading at breakfast but I seem to barely keep on top of the requests for more milk etc. It would be literally 5 minutes

I mean, are you trying to tell us that they both have severe hyperactive ADHD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some suggestions: 1) read to them in the bathtub if they bathe together. 2) tell them they can stay up later if they sit quietly for books. One warning and they’re crazy, lights out. Be consistent.

Stay strong with the little to no screens! It’s worth it!!

Maybe some kind of sensory activity?

I was going to ask what do they like such as trucks and dins a book that comes with a truck or there are LEGO/DUPLO books.

they like play doh and markers

we have magentic toys scattered around, maybe I can collect them up in a bin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are home with all day long and the only time you read to them is at bedtime? That seems odd to me. Read to them in the morning, read to them when you take them to the library (you take them to the library, right??), read to them while they're eating breakfast or lunch, read to them before or after nap time. I mean, ANY TIME, OP. Geez!

Also, where are you getting books and what are you reading them? At those ages, my kids LOVED books. There are so many amazing options!

They dont nap
They run around the library
I have thought about reading at breakfast but I seem to barely keep on top of the requests for more milk etc. It would be literally 5 minutes

I mean, are you trying to tell us that they both have severe hyperactive ADHD?

Well, their dad literally had conduct disorder...

[Anonymous]

They run around the library? OP, you need to parent your kids. A library isn’t a park.