Family Read-A-Louds to Encourage a Good Work Ethic
October 3, 2008
If you have never read a book together as a family why not give it a try?!
I have to admit that this is something that has been really hard for our family to do, but the rewards have been wonderful. Jeff and I were not brought up to be readers. Both of us only read what was required for school lessons. So now that we are old dogs, it's been hard to learn new tricks. Over the past 8-10 years we have tried to get through a few books together as a family each year in addition to Bible reading together.
When you read together not only are you experiencing a journey together through the book, but you'd be amazed at how much discussion is sparked about related topics as you read. I wish I could go back to the years our children were little ones and start over, knowing what I know now…but isn't that how life is?! I can't wait for those grandchildren!!!
Right now we are reading The Return of the Prodigal, it has sparked so much discussion that it's taking us quite a while to get through it.
Two of our favorite books we have read together as a family have been:
(as seen in the sidebar in the Amazon box)
and
Both of these books encourage a strong work ethic and family unity. These stories will provoke you and your children to search your hearts about loyalty and serving others.
A few tips:
- Don't feel that you need to read every day/night. If you can get 3 nights in you're doing good! You'll find the more you do it, the more you'll WANT to do it!
- Don't worry if the kids don't understand everything, they'll get it as they grow older/wiser. In the beginning you are teaching listening skills and being still skills (say that 3 times fast!).
- Encourage them to question the characters in the story, are that acting/reacting in a Biblical manner.
- Balance between fiction and biographies. Historically accurate books are GREAT! Your personal character will be challenged and encouraged when you read about missionaries or others that have stood fast in the faith.
Topics: Recommended Reading | 6 Comments »
Comments (6)
Happy Birthday! I hope your enjoying it. What a nice way to celebrate your birthday by sharing with others. I am not sure if these books are one of your giveaways for your birthday, but if it is I would love to receive either of them. Thanks for the opportunitly.
Thanks for the book recommendations! I had never heard of “Little Britches” but I will add it to my list of books to check into.
Hope your week is going well!
One book we read aloud to our children was “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” by Betty Smith. It is wonderful. It could have been my own father’s story, as he was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1915. Oh, and also “Mama Was a Missionary”.
Civilla,
I haven’t heard of those books, I’ll have to check them out! Thanks!!!
[...] This is a great question! My problem is that I do not know of any for the very young. I have recommend books for children about 8 and older HERE. [...]
We read John G Paton’s autobiography and it was wonderful. Very thick book but it reads like an adventure story. You will have to remind yourself that this isnt fiction! No attention span problems (and if you have that you can do something like teach the kids to do basic crochet so they can sit still easier..no pattern reading though. Perhaps they could be making basic scarves for a mission). We were in tears at times over the conversions of the heathen and sobered at other times when he would discuss the ‘white heathens’ back home.
We’ll definately reread this in a few years so the younger ones can glean more of it.