Story Time with Zoë–Volume 4
It’s been a few weeks, so I thought I would revive a fledgling feature on my blog, Story Time with Zoë. It’s not that we haven’t been reading much lately. Quite the contrary. Zoë has moved on to some very interesting chapter books and has thoroughly enjoyed the adventures she is able to take in her mind with these new gems. Even Zane is stepping up his game. He just doesn’t realize that maybe he’s not supposed to be reading as well as he is and although he will struggle with new words and how to pronounce them, he has yet to become frustrated in any endeavor. His latest undertaking is the Book the First Lemony Snicket’s a Series of Unfortunate Events. Although he needs help with many of the words he has yet to indicate frustration and plows ahead.
Funny thing. We have attempted to restrict the television viewing around here with varying degrees of success. There are many days, I am proud to report, that the television has remained off for the entire day. Oh there are times when we all break down but the kids seem to appreciate the tv time more and comply without resistance when I ask them to turn it off. If I had to put a number on it, I’d say on average less than one hour of television per day. So the other day, I tell the kids to turn off the television and without a complaint they do. Not two minutes had passed when I walked into the room to find this—–
(Totally unbidden, Zoë and Zane look for a book to read.)
I have got to believe we are doing something right. Anyway. To the task at hand. This week’s edition of Story Time with Zoë brings me back to one of my favorite children’s books by one of my favorite author/illustrator duos, Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd, The Runaway Bunny. I had Brown’s Goodnight, Moon practically memorized by the time Zoë was just a couple of weeks old. Margaret Wise Brown’s stories seem to have a magical way of captivating the attention of my kids even after having heard them countless times over the years. My kids have always made a game of finding the little bunny in each of the colorful illustrations by Hurd in The Runaway Bunny yet for some reason, I am drawn to the pencil drawings.
So grab the kids and your copy of The Runaway Bunny and enjoy this week’s edition of Story Time with Zoë.
When my oldest daughter was three she told me she wanted to read. I told her she had to learn the alphabet first. I planned on teaching her a new letter each week. After the first week she told my the alphabet was great but she wanted to learn to READ! I got some beginner reader books and she’s been reading like crazy ever since. Kids know what they can and can’t do. Parents just need to listen when they tell us. It sounds like you’re doing a great job.
Tell Zoe thank you for the story. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard that one and I really enjoyed it.
“I have got to believe we are doing something right.”
I’d say so.
She really does enunciate, don’t she?
Good going with helping your kids to read. Sounds like they’re doing awesome. My daughter whose now 17, used to hate to read. Then she discovered Harry Potter and now she begs me to take her to the bookstores where she can hang out to read. I love it!
An average of an hour a day? That’s pretty impressive.
We don’t watch it all day long, but we probably have an hour and a half in the morning and an hour and a half in the evening.
Great idea. Please tell her I said she does a very nice job with her reading.
I have to give proper credit to my wife. She’s the driving force here. I just try to reinforce the groundwork she’s laid down.
She amps it up when the mic is on.
I think that little wizard is responsible for quite a few young readers.
Well, it is an average. It’s really amazing at how well they adapted to having the tv off.
Consider it done. Thanks.
Aw, cute as always! Tell her great job!
Looks like I got to start restricting my daughter’s TV hours as well. Kids over here in Singapore watch a lot of TV!
It does make a good sitter–sometimes.
I agree with Ed, especially with all the children’s channels available on cable.
We have a bedtime ritual and dedicate 15 minutes to reading before bedtime.
I need to be more diligent with bedtime reading. Fortunately, enough reading has taken place throughout the day that I don’t feel it’s a loss.