As a parent whose young child was recently diagnosed with dyslexia, I REALLY hate the advice to just “read to your child” and “fill your house with books.” I am a librarian and my husband is a professor. We’ve been reading to our kid since day one. Yet she still struggles. A little more empathy and acknowledgment for parents trying their best would have been nice in this piece...
Absolutely, Annie -- that's super frustrating advice when a kiddo is struggling with a learning disability in reading. (It's also frustrating advice when that's *not* the case and your child is simply taking longer to read than our society deems "normal" -- my eldest didn't really learn until this past spring, in the second half of 3rd grade, at 9yo. Kids take different paths, they have different needs, and that's even more true if there are language-based challenges.)
It seems to be clicking for my 6.5 yo as he is starting 1st grade. 1st grade was a magical year for me where I went from rudimentary reading skills to reading any chapter book I wanted and I want this for him too. My 4 yo loves reading at bedtime and in the morning and I try to always have a book in our bag when we go anywhere. They are surrounded by books, I am actually in 2 book clubs and prioritize meeting with friends to talk about books. My husband reads to them but still gets frustrated when reading full books to himself and it makes me sad he doesn’t seem to enjoy reading books- he reads lot of articles and I’m wondering if we found more audiobooks it would help him love reading again. His grandma was a career English teacher and I never got to know her before her death shortly after our marriage.
My husband -- not a reader in the least, though he does read to our children -- devours audiobooks. He has one magazine that he enjoys (The Marine Corps Times 😂) And I've also noticed that he dips in and out of books -- he hasn't read a single title from the stack on his bedside table cover to cover, but he's read parts of all of them, and you know what? It all counts. There is no "right" way to do it (nor a "right" time to learn!) Maybe your husband needs a greater variety of materials to find something he likes... and maybe he's just not ever going to enjoy reading, and that's okay, too.
I read this book The Reading List and a 80ish man’s wife died and then her husband wanted to know what had compelled her so about her books. I don’t mind that he doesn’t read as far as being intellectually curious, he watches sports while I read next to him on the couch but I have wished he could understand WHY I love books so much. We will see! It’s such a nuanced conversation.
As a parent whose young child was recently diagnosed with dyslexia, I REALLY hate the advice to just “read to your child” and “fill your house with books.” I am a librarian and my husband is a professor. We’ve been reading to our kid since day one. Yet she still struggles. A little more empathy and acknowledgment for parents trying their best would have been nice in this piece...
Absolutely, Annie -- that's super frustrating advice when a kiddo is struggling with a learning disability in reading. (It's also frustrating advice when that's *not* the case and your child is simply taking longer to read than our society deems "normal" -- my eldest didn't really learn until this past spring, in the second half of 3rd grade, at 9yo. Kids take different paths, they have different needs, and that's even more true if there are language-based challenges.)
I did publish a guest post on dyslexia back in January of this year that might be of interest to you. You can read it here: https://canweread.substack.com/p/our-journey-with-dyslexia
I think so much depends on the child. We provided the same stimulating book environment for both our kids. One kid loves to read, one hates it.
Also very true! Thanks for adding that.
I love thinking about letting our kids see us begin to learn something. Such a great piece of advice!
I agree — that was my favorite part of this post.
Me too!! This so exactly what I came to post too! Thanks Sarah for sharing this awesome interview with us.
You're so very welcome, Claudia.
It seems to be clicking for my 6.5 yo as he is starting 1st grade. 1st grade was a magical year for me where I went from rudimentary reading skills to reading any chapter book I wanted and I want this for him too. My 4 yo loves reading at bedtime and in the morning and I try to always have a book in our bag when we go anywhere. They are surrounded by books, I am actually in 2 book clubs and prioritize meeting with friends to talk about books. My husband reads to them but still gets frustrated when reading full books to himself and it makes me sad he doesn’t seem to enjoy reading books- he reads lot of articles and I’m wondering if we found more audiobooks it would help him love reading again. His grandma was a career English teacher and I never got to know her before her death shortly after our marriage.
My husband -- not a reader in the least, though he does read to our children -- devours audiobooks. He has one magazine that he enjoys (The Marine Corps Times 😂) And I've also noticed that he dips in and out of books -- he hasn't read a single title from the stack on his bedside table cover to cover, but he's read parts of all of them, and you know what? It all counts. There is no "right" way to do it (nor a "right" time to learn!) Maybe your husband needs a greater variety of materials to find something he likes... and maybe he's just not ever going to enjoy reading, and that's okay, too.
I read this book The Reading List and a 80ish man’s wife died and then her husband wanted to know what had compelled her so about her books. I don’t mind that he doesn’t read as far as being intellectually curious, he watches sports while I read next to him on the couch but I have wished he could understand WHY I love books so much. We will see! It’s such a nuanced conversation.
Totally understand that. We want the people we love to understand the *things* we love.