Reading to kids

"Reading maketh a full man." as the saying goes and it's true that you cannot replace the quality of enjoyment that books could provide in Learning. While it is true that most of the materials today can be viewed in television or the internet- there are many important points missed. Have your children be checked by an specialists for physical impairment or Reading disabilities. Maybe that's one cause why your children could not stand long periods of time. Age also influence reading interests. Remember that each child have different "attention spans" so it is nice for you to be creative in making them love Reading. Before the advent of technology, reading have already contributed to man's curiosity and imagination. In that way, it allowed them to explore, seek visual evidences by traveling and do more investigation. Of course that's the missing part in television and additional media because it has already spoil the excitement of "wonders" that is supposed to be in the imaginative state in the human mind.
Do you have quality materials that fit to your children's age?
It is not necessary that children would read long paragraphs like us adults on a first introduction of a subject matter. Read with them. Demonstrate how you read and be creative. For example in reading stories, poetry and other prose that makes use of characterizations... you might want to change voice to emphasize character. In that way, children will have a grip that Reading is not purely narration but there is also Drama in it.
Do they have a routine for play and study?
If you just want your kids to Read without making schedules on their study time at home then I think this is stressful on their part especially if they are going to school... They should feel that you are not acting like their teacher. School age children normally do not listen to their parents when it comes to academic areas. If you want to impose something to your kids on this area, talk to his or her favorite teacher so that she or he will introduce it to your children then you reinforce it at home. Don't worry too much on this because this is how child develops socially.
Introduce materials related to their study and a variety.
This is something that most parents miss in seeking Reading materials. Children get bored when story books are often used most especially those stories that they are already familiar with and already watched (So don't let them be glued in the television. TV might spoil your technique. Schedule for TV viewing.). Introduce simple Science, then allow them to participate in the kitchen. Introduce sport, let your kids go out with your husband for fishing, skating, jogging, etc. There are a variety of ways to stimulate children to participate into Reading. Of course they wont be very willing at first but when you demonstrate and do stuff like that in school where there is singing and some skills demonstration; they would be interested later on. You could actually help them visualize and solve problems in mathematics by using available stuff inside your fridge. So next time they have this math homeworks, get them into the kitchen, go to a science fair, etc..
Children will love Reading, let them decide for materials. Get them into the bookstore or library with you. The more you expose them with stuff they haven't experienced, their attention will be re-focused.

Like Father, Like Son; Like Mother, like Daughter?

I read that children emulate both good and bad health habits. Teens whose parents smoke will have a tendency to smoke while kids whose parents exercise will develop the habit of exercising as well. I have read and also mentioned in our RRL on our undergraduate thesis that parents are the models of their children.
In the Journal of Health and Social Behaviour, research result show that parents influence on teens follow gender lines, boys emulate their Dad and mothers emulated by daughters.
In the aspect of health routines/ habits, what do you think have you acquired/ learned from your parents?

Autism

Jsvanriet: I have a child who is 3 almost 4 and he was dianosed with low functioning Autism. he is going to a early preschool and the school is tring to rediagnose him and I am not sure how to handle this. I feel like they are pushing him aside because he has had early help and is beginning to socialize better. If anyone has any advice I am always open to suggestion. We are in Indiana and I really dont want to see my little man get pushed farther behind. We moved here from a military base and we had all the help we could ask for but now that we are in the real world we seem a little lost as what we can get for him or do for him to make his life a little easier.

manunulat: I understand your feeling as a mother. I learned that Autism is best diagnosed early in order for the caregiver to provide the necessary needs of the the child. I'm not sure what you mean by your child being re-diagnosed in pre-school. You have to realize that Medicine and Special Education have different modalities in coming up with the right approach to cater to the needs of your child. Pediatricians are most concerned with physiologic health and development while the SPED is most concerned with the optimum level of functioning of your child. I would like to point out that both of this discipline is not in contradiction but best supplements each other. How to meet it is in your hands as the primary caregiver because most of the decision-making is on you as parents. My suggestion is for you to ask questions and be more involved with these modalities.If there are any groups of parents who have the same condition like your child, consider being a member. In that way, you can have a wide array of ideas on how to handle related situations. Further, you can be more empowered and you will have additional support system. There are websites also that are accessible. You have to equip also yourself, together with your husband with some information that could be vital to your child. If you feel that your child has been stressed so much, you have to ask and ventilate your concern to the secondary caregiver. He or she could explain to you the rationale behind the approach and that is important so that you may also learn to reinforce it when you are at home. I know it is not easy but you have to be pro-active at all concerns, not only you as the mother but also with your husband.

* I don't have specialization on these kids... Hmmm do you have any more ideas? Email or post it here.