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SarahCD
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| Posted: May 03 2012 at 6:50pm | IP Logged
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Could anyone give me some helpful tips for reading aloud with multiple children?
I used to read so much to my children when I had one, two, three ... But as my number grew to six, my reading-aloud time has diminished.  I am really disappointed in myself about this, and I want to improve. But so often, our reading time ends up being interrupted by someone's unruly behavior, fights over who gets to sit next to Mom, etc.. It often makes for an UNpleasant time, rather than a cozy one.
So, I am wondering if I need to break up my children, reading one book to the older girls and another book to my 4yo twins? But what would the twins do when I'm reading to the girls? Oh, that is a scary thought ~ LOL!
Also, do you have a set time for reading aloud, or does it just sort of happen? I have been letting it sort of happen, but it just never does. So, perhaps if I pegged it with snack or right after quiet time, it would actually get done. Bedtime is a possibility, too, although I often am "done" at that point of the day ~ LOL!
I have been trying to search the archives for good read-aloud books, and I think I have found a plethora for my older girls, but what about for my 4yo twins?
Thanks!
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Sarah
wife to G
mom to  dd 9, dd 8, dd 6, ds 4, dd 4 and ds 1
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jawgee
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| Posted: May 03 2012 at 7:15pm | IP Logged
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Our family read-alouds are right after breakfast (history, faith, sometimes science) and literature as a bedtime story.
We all sit together for the morning readings. I'm still working out the fighting about who gets to sit next to mom. LOL. Right now we're alternating - boys one day, girls the next, but it's not working too well.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: May 03 2012 at 8:32pm | IP Logged
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you could read at bedtime.. that's one way to read to olders after littles are in bed.
Try and get out of the mindset that reading out loud needs to be done with everyone sitting quietly and paying attention. I get some of the best attention from my boys if they appear to be busy with other things.. so quiet toys can work (drawing or coloring or such).. I've also when mine were all pretty little sent them to their own spots.. you get that corner of the rug and you get the other corner and you get the third corner and you get the fourth corner and mom sits in the chair with baby in her lap.
PLUS pick GOOD books.. behavior is so much better when they're rivotted to the story. Narnia was excellent for this. The American Girl historical books like Kit or Molly were actually good choices.
While they're eating. This can be a great choice they're all busy with eating and you can read outloud and eat when they're done yourself.
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kristinannie
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| Posted: May 03 2012 at 10:44pm | IP Logged
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I think you have gotten some great advice already. I think you should definitely have a separate read aloud for your bigger kids (after the littles go to bed would be perfect or before they get up). I am a big believer that 4 year olds need a quiet time if they are no longer napping. Could you send them to look at books or play quietly on their beds for an hour and use that time with the bigger kids as well?
My kids are 6 and 4. The best read aloud tool I have found is coloring. I am not sure if your twins like to color, but I choose books that have black and white images in them that they can color. I just make copies. Otherwise, I will print out a picture for free off the internet that is related to the topic (I also do this for science and history). I will also let them play quietly with toys. I have found that my kids pay much closer attention when they are busy.
Here are some of our favorite books:
Orchard Book of Nursery Stories (has pictures)
Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook (pictures to color)
The Adventures of series by Burgess (pictures to color)
My Father's Dragon (pictures to color)
James Herriot's Treasury (has pictures)
Hans Christian Anderson Fairy Tales (has pictures)
Nelson Mandela's Favorite African Folktales (has pictures)
Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book (has pictures)
We also read lots and lots of picture books. The kids don't color when we read those. 
Here is our basic schedule (I don't have bigger kids so I am just giving all of these to you so you can maybe find one that works for you):
Circle time (morning basket time): We will read 1-2 picture books (sometimes a short story from a folktale or fairy tale compilation) , read from the Catholic Treasure Box series, do memorization and calendar
Lunch time: Read 1-2 chapters from one of the Adventures of series books
Bed time: Read a chapter from another read aloud
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: May 04 2012 at 7:52am | IP Logged
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I've had good luck tagging our chapter book read aloud onto lunch. I read while they eat, and then I eat my lunch afterwards.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: May 04 2012 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
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I do the same as Lindsay--I read during breakfast and lunch (and I eat separately). Toddler mouths are full during mealtimes, and I keep a little basket of toys for the baby to sit in her high chair or on my lap and play with.
I do a pile of picture books (mostly geared toward my littles) later on in the afternoon, after naptime. The big kids are happy to listen as well, and then they take over the reading after I do a few books.
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Celeste
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stellamaris
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| Posted: May 04 2012 at 6:56pm | IP Logged
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CrunchyMom wrote:
| I've had good luck tagging our chapter book read aloud onto lunch. I read while they eat, and then I eat my lunch afterwards. |
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Yup. This.  Except I try to read and eat, which makes for long pauses during which the kids get to contemplate the story to that point  .
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Caroline
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4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Tips for Reading Aloud
