Reading aloud to your teen

[Anonymous]

Before kids, my husband and I would occaissionnally read books out loud to each other. It's a nice was to connect that's a little more personal than watching TV together. My kids are still little but I hope we could still read aloud in high school.

OP- Id say choose any book that interests you both. It might be good to start with a lighter book. Possibly something like Bill Bryson or Carl Haisson (although I think those might have some sex in them so scan them for your level of comfort).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the ignorant people who are questioning why you would want to do this. They clearly don't know anything about literacy (not to mention family relationships). It's fantastic that you're doing this. I don't have any specific suggestions, just encouragement.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 11 year old loves for us to read to him every night. I hope it doesn't change. It's a great close to the evening, and I can imagine it providing a nice connection and safe space even when we're all getting on each other's nerves as he ages.

I do and feel the same. Mine will turn 12 this month.

[Anonymous]

Surprised to hear all the negative comments about this. It's just something to do with your teen, like anything else you might enjoy together--go shopping, out for dinner, to the batting cage, read books. All perfectly valid activities if the kid wants to do it.
When I was 15, I took a summer school English class (because I was hoping to do an exchange program and wanted to load up on credits.) Since it was so condensed, I was challenged to read all the books on time. My mom was really supportive, and to help me get it done we read to each other. In truth, reading out loud takes a lot longer than reading to yourself, but I think it forced me to just sit and focus. We were also trying to read very fast. It's the only time she read to me as a teen, but I have really fond memories of lying on my bed with her speed reading aloud Catcher in the Rye.

[Anonymous]

Love this, glad you are doing it! I hope to be when mine are teens.

If they are teens, maybe any fiction you are reading? I know when I was a teen I would grab whatever book my dad had just finished. Or, you could do classics.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, I am a teacher and feel reading aloud with older kids is SO incredibly important! People assume that once a child hits third grade the kids should read silently, but research has shown reading aloud to older readers increases fluency, vocabulary, engagement and motivation! The later are essential for teen readers.

Those who wrote the negative comments are truly ignorant about reading engagement.

About your initial question, you can do read alouds with any books they are interested in. Interest is KEY! There also has been a lot of studies on the benefits of using picture books with older readers...

http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/93738787/using-picture-books-adolescent-readers-enhance-literacy-instruction

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry, why would you read aloud a book to your teens? Young ES who can still read - fine. But teens? Why?

Because being read to is one of the great joys in life. We get books on tape and enjoy them as a family in the car. Why not read to each other. If you don't think it is fun, don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop being guilted into things by the General Parenting forum.

My parents didn't read aloud to me once I could read on my own because I loved reading so much and doing it out loud went too slowly. I still managed to get into an Ivy.

Good for you. Not everyone's teenager loves reading. My son hates it. We read to him to improve his listening skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Stop being guilted into things by the General Parenting forum.

My parents didn't read aloud to me once I could read on my own because I loved reading so much and doing it out loud went too slowly. I still managed to get into an Ivy.

Yes, because your individual experience is statistically relevant. You probably went to Penn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stop being guilted into things by the General Parenting forum.

My parents didn't read aloud to me once I could read on my own because I loved reading so much and doing it out loud went too slowly. I still managed to get into an Ivy.

Yes, because your individual experience is statistically relevant. You probably went to Penn.

or Brown.

[Anonymous]

I think it is fine if you are not forcing it on the kid. By the time I was 13 I was reading Stephen King -- there was not much in the way of YA fiction back then. I can't imagine wanting to be read to at that age though, for the same reason I didn't want to watch movies with sex scenes with my parents.