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

[Anonymous]

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

Amazing tip!

[Anonymous]

Pictures. Pictures in books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Okay then, what about books that can act out or participate with?

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
We're Going on a Lion Hunt -- I suspect there are others in this series
Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups - there are definitely others of these
The Book Without Pictures
The Monster at the End of this Book

[Anonymous]

I started reading to my kids from the time they were newborns while nursing them. They are trained to relax and sit or lie still when I am reading to them.

This may not help the OP, but hopefully other new moms should read to their kids, twice a day, and show them the pictures, so the kids learn to love being read to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Okay then, what about books that can act out or participate with?

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
We're Going on a Lion Hunt -- I suspect there are others in this series
Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups - there are definitely others of these
The Book Without Pictures
The Monster at the End of this Book

We own We're Going on a Bear Hunt. It was a favorite of the older sibling. I have been discouraged and gave up for a while. Maybe I can try with super entertaining books first.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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...

Okay then, what about books that can act out or participate with?

We're Going on a Bear Hunt
We're Going on a Lion Hunt -- I suspect there are others in this series
Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups - there are definitely others of these
The Book Without Pictures
The Monster at the End of this Book

We own We're Going on a Bear Hunt. It was a favorite of the older sibling. I have been discouraged and gave up for a while. Maybe I can try with super entertaining books first.

The others you can probably find on YouTube if you want to preview them, but they let kids yell at the penguin or tell you not to turn the page, etc. I was thinking not only silly but loud and also they can do the yelling part even if they didn't listen but then maybe next time they'll want to listen to anticipate those parts? Worth a try.

[Anonymous]

Unpopular opinion, but if it’s not working for you it’s okay to stop for a while. They’ll still learn to read and stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started reading to my kids from the time they were newborns while nursing them. They are trained to relax and sit or lie still when I am reading to them.

This may not help the OP, but hopefully other new moms should read to their kids, twice a day, and show them the pictures, so the kids learn to love being read to.

You were reading kids books or your adult book to them? I can't fathom reading kids books to a baby. I am far too selfish. Maybe I am paying the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion, but if it’s not working for you it’s okay to stop for a while. They’ll still learn to read and stuff.

That has been my line of thinking but it is time for the 5 year old to be introduced to reading.

[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

5 minutes of reading is great!

Also, it they’re not napping, what about quiet reading time for a few minutes instead?

[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

5 minutes of reading is great!

Also, it they’re not napping, what about quiet reading time for a few minutes instead?

There is no quiet time unless somebody is sick :O

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started reading to my kids from the time they were newborns while nursing them. They are trained to relax and sit or lie still when I am reading to them.

This may not help the OP, but hopefully other new moms should read to their kids, twice a day, and show them the pictures, so the kids learn to love being read to.

You were reading kids books or your adult book to them? I can't fathom reading kids books to a baby. I am far too selfish. Maybe I am paying the price.

I never did that and my kids all sit nicely to read. I don’t think it’s your fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unpopular opinion, but if it’s not working for you it’s okay to stop for a while. They’ll still learn to read and stuff.

That has been my line of thinking but it is time for the 5 year old to be introduced to reading.

Past time. S/he should be reading by now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started reading to my kids from the time they were newborns while nursing them. They are trained to relax and sit or lie still when I am reading to them.

This may not help the OP, but hopefully other new moms should read to their kids, twice a day, and show them the pictures, so the kids learn to love being read to.

You were reading kids books or your adult book to them? I can't fathom reading kids books to a baby. I am far too selfish. Maybe I am paying the price.

NP. Selfish? There are many fantastic children's books. I thought most people did this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started reading to my kids from the time they were newborns while nursing them. They are trained to relax and sit or lie still when I am reading to them.

This may not help the OP, but hopefully other new moms should read to their kids, twice a day, and show them the pictures, so the kids learn to love being read to.

You were reading kids books or your adult book to them? I can't fathom reading kids books to a baby. I am far too selfish. Maybe I am paying the price.

I never did that and my kids all sit nicely to read. I don’t think it’s your fault.

I think subclinical adhd is part of the family picture. When I say then run around the library I don't mean they literally run nonstop in circles, they run off and play with the kid's stuff. If I offer a book the reaction I get is "Meh".