Getting the Dad to Read

 

My husband is a reader. He reads tons of books and his books occupy one section of our home library for his books. However, he is not much of a read-aloud dad to the kids. That role, somehow has been left greatly to me, the mum.

However, those times when he does read-aloud to the kids, I could see how much the kids adore it. No doubt his style is different from mine (and me, being the expressive and drama queen sometimes find the style a tad monotonous), but the kids will still remain attached to him, listening to his every word. And better still, they would ask for another story to be read... And another... till bedtime which was supposed to be at 9pm ended up being at 10.30 or later.

Recently, a dad commented to me that he can't read to his child, and that he would bore his child with his reading. 

 But I beg to differ.It doesn't matter whether you are an expressive/dramatic reader, whether you stutter when you read, whether you read in a monotone... It doesn't matter to your child. What matters to your child is that you were there... Spending those few minutes, and putting aside all your other tasks and chores, to be with him, cuddle him close, answer his questions, and read to him.

So for my dearest husband who reads to our kids... Thanking you for reading to them!

And to other dads, who feel that you can't read... Don't worry, pick up a book, sit your child on your lap, and read to them. You'll get better at it, and very soon, reading to them would become a must-do activity for both dad and child.