kristinannie Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 My kids are very fidgety since they are still so young. Do you let your kids do anything while you are doing read alouds to keep their hands busy? When DS is playing quietly with something, he is actually still listening (as evidenced by his ability to narrate). What do you let your kids do while reading aloud? I would love to hear some ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakereese Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 A coloring sheet that relates to the story? There are so many free coloring sheet sites, you can most likely find anything! I do this often with history. My son will color a map or other coloring page pertaining to our lesson, and will still be able to narrate what I had read. I do this with Latin as well (with DD). She really is just along for the ride on Latin, she listens in and colors something from headventureland. But it amazes me what she remembers! I think it is fine to keep the hands busy while you are reading. Play-doh, Bubber, and other crafty things would work as well. Check out thinking putty, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jyniffrec Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Thing 2 bounces up and down like a rubber ball the whole time I read to him. He hears it all and can tell me what I just read if I ask him to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Anything they want, as long as they aren't making noise (usually explosive sound effects). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 We read most of ours while they are eating lunch or having a snack. I use color sheets as well, but reading while they are eating seems to work best for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 I think it is fine to keep the hands busy while you are reading. Play-doh, Bubber, and other crafty things would work as well. Check out thinking putty, too. What is bubber? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Anything they want... So long as they are paying attention, it doesn't matter to me if they are moving around and/or doing something else. The "something else" could be anything from physically moving around to playing with cars or dolls or blocks, to drawing/coloring, etc. etc. I can usually tell when they're actually listening vs. tuned out. I find that I listen better to lectures/podcasts/audiobooks if I am doing something else at the same time, like knitting or cleaning the kitchen or playing solitaire on my ipod. Somehow, by keeping my hands busy, I can take in more. I assume it is the same for some kids, at some times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OregonNative Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 My children can play LEGOS, draw, color etc. If I'm worried about thier retention, I'll ask questions afterward. When my DD was in 1st, I made the mistake of expecting for her to sit still during read-alouds. Boy was that goofy of me:tongue_smilie: Especially since we were using SL Core 1 at the read-alouds bored her to death! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonersl Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 My children can play LEGOS, draw, color etc. If I'm worried about thier retention, I'll ask questions afterward. :iagree: As long as they are being quiet and not making battle, explosion noises, I am okay with this. Shannon in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aludlam Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 We read most of ours while they are eating lunch or having a snack. I use color sheets as well, but reading while they are eating seems to work best for us. Us too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonersl Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 My children can play LEGOS, draw, color etc. If I'm worried about thier retention, I'll ask questions afterward. :iagree: As long as they are being quiet and not making battle/explosion noises, I am okay with this. Shannon in NC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunshineMom Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 Bring out some big floor pillows, a bowl of popcorn, coloring sheets related to the reading if possible & crayons...enjoy reading time. Could try play-do at the table as you read. Kids could also draw a picture about the reading during reading time and then narrate story, write up and LA is done (at least part way)! Before bedtime, when my kids were small, we took turns giving each other back scratches& hair combing/up dos and all in my big bed. Writing that last sentence brings back warm fuzzy thoughts-thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kkiller Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 My ds5 also does much better when he has something to occupy his hands. Usually he's holding a small car or small train, any kind of toy that doesn't make noise. I will ask him questions afterwards and I'm amazed at how much more he retains when his hands are busy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 My younger son used to build with Legos and now often draws. He has also colored in past, as well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted January 31, 2011 Author Share Posted January 31, 2011 My ds5 also does much better when he has something to occupy his hands. Usually he's holding a small car or small train, any kind of toy that doesn't make noise. I will ask him questions afterwards and I'm amazed at how much more he retains when his hands are busy! :iagree: That is why I posted this! I had started doing narrations with DS4 during his bedtime stories since we are starting HS in July and I wanted him to be used to the process. Anyway, when he was sitting quietly, he would hardly be able to tell me anything (unless it was a picture book and he was looking at the pics). If he was playing quietly with his trains (usually lying on the ground), he would remember so much of the detail. I found it so counterintuitive! You all gave me some great ideas!!!!! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 DS likes to build with legos/k'nex, color, draw, etc. while I read. DD will often draw, color, or needlepoint. I can't even watch tv without doing something with my hands, so I definitely don't mind them needing to do the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcelmer Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 One of my favorite read aloud times was a few years ago. My kids were 2nd ? 3rd (boy) and K (girl) ... they had all the playmobile pirates and lego pirate ships out, and were using them as the pilgrim ships and settlers while I read aloud the Pilgrim Primer ... :-) There's nothing like a onelegged playmobile pirate as John Smith, and the Jack Sparrow as Squanto to brighten the day! They seemed to be absorbing what I read in a better than usual way that day! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 Coloring sheets were always a distraction for my boys. But little fidget toys can be good for them. What has often worked best is when I let them act out the story though. It sounds crazy, but occasionally, they just like to stand up and pretend to be all the characters. They do it especially for morning history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boscopup Posted February 1, 2011 Share Posted February 1, 2011 That is why I posted this! I had started doing narrations with DS4 during his bedtime stories since we are starting HS in July and I wanted him to be used to the process. Just an FYI, but I've read that you usually don't start narrations until around age 6 (I know SWB recommends this in WWE, and I believe CM also does this?). So that might also be an issue for you, if the child is only 4. I have a 4 year old here, and I wouldn't even dream of asking him to narrate yet. It's a very difficult skill that takes some maturity. I'm sure some 4 and 5 year olds can do it, but I'd recommend just waiting and maybe discuss the book a bit, but not really ask for a narration yet. Try to make the reading fun. Don't kill it with too many "comprehension questions". ;) At this point with my 4 year old, I just read. If he picks up something, great. If not, that's fine too. He's only 4. His 6 year old brother gets to do some simple narrations ("What is one thing you remember from the story?") after doing some leading questions, and it likely won't be the main point of the story yet. I won't start narrations with the now-4 year old until he's in first grade or doing first grade work (which would be age 6... he starts K when he's about to turn 6). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted February 1, 2011 Author Share Posted February 1, 2011 Just an FYI, but I've read that you usually don't start narrations until around age 6 (I know SWB recommends this in WWE, and I believe CM also does this?). So that might also be an issue for you, if the child is only 4. I have a 4 year old here, and I wouldn't even dream of asking him to narrate yet. It's a very difficult skill that takes some maturity. I'm sure some 4 and 5 year olds can do it, but I'd recommend just waiting and maybe discuss the book a bit, but not really ask for a narration yet. Try to make the reading fun. Don't kill it with too many "comprehension questions". ;) At this point with my 4 year old, I just read. If he picks up something, great. If not, that's fine too. He's only 4. His 6 year old brother gets to do some simple narrations ("What is one thing you remember from the story?") after doing some leading questions, and it likely won't be the main point of the story yet. I won't start narrations with the now-4 year old until he's in first grade or doing first grade work (which would be age 6... he starts K when he's about to turn 6). They aren't formal narrations. I just ask him to tell me about what we just read. If he doesn't have anything to say, I ask him some questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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