Proverbs 16:24 (ASV)
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
Perhaps you haven’t thought about reading aloud to your tween or teen now that she can read on her own. Those years of cuddling together on the couch or in the bed and reading story after story may seem like a distant memory. But wait! I want to suggest that we are never too old to enjoy a good read-aloud.
During these years when conversations can be difficult or finding connecting points with our daughters can be a challenge, reading aloud can be a way to share an enjoyable activity together and provide opportunities for meaningful conversations.
Case in point: over the summer my husband, daughter, and I traveled to and from the Midwest to visit family. How did we survive 13 hours in the car each way? We read. Reading aloud was a “regular” in our household when our children were younger. Over time, as they grew older and their schedules became busier, we read aloud less and less. After this last trip and reading together The Giver by Lois Lowry, I saw again the power of story and how it can open doors for conversations about truth, goodness, and beauty.
The observations my daughter made and the questions she asked while we read together would have been unlikely to happen in another context.
[Tweet “A good story stirs our imaginations and causes us to think more deeply about life.”]
If choosing a book to read-aloud seems like a daunting task, Gladys Hunt and Barbara Hampton wrote Honey for a Teen’s Heart, a great resource that I highly recommend. (You may recognize the name Gladys Hunt from her popular book Honey for a Child’s Heart.) Part I of Honey for a Teen’s Heart provides helpful information to parents on the value of reading and how to choose a good book. Hunt and Hampton also tackle the thorny issue of how to deal with questionable content in a book. Their suggestions and comments are wise and thoughtful.
So what are you waiting for?
Talk to your daughter and find out what kind of books and subjects she likes. Pick a time and/or a place and discover the wonder and joy of reading together.
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