Stacey Loscalzo

Nov 29

Monkey See…

by Stacey

 

 

To use a cliche (something I try not to do but unavoidable here), I can’t help but feel like a broken record on this issue. I am always amazed by how my children mimic my reading behaviors. Sometimes in really subtle ways and then in just, ‘shout it out-I am copying you’ sorts of ways. It reminds me again and again that in order to raise readers, we must, ourselves be readers. 

Just the other day, Rob asked me, with all the work I’m doing lately, if it’s wise to spend time, “reading for myself.” In case you couldn’t hear me screaming from where you are, it is totally and completely wise. Our girls are readers because we are readers.

I could get into the whole nature-nurture thing here and there is a place for it. There are certainly children of readers who are not readers themselves. This happens for a myriad of reasons including but not limited to learning disabilities. But there are not many readers out there with parents who are not readers. It just doesn’t go that way.

To throw in a few more cliches, children do do what you do, not what you say so practice what you preach and take your own medicine.

The photo above is ‘picture proof’ of all these cliches. Over the weekend, I was jotting down notes from the New York Times of titles  I would like to add to my tottering piles of “to be read books”. A bit later, I noticed that Caroline had started a similar list.

Monkey do…

2 Comments

  1. Lindsey says:

    I can hear you screaming 🙂
    And I agree!
    Love this mimicry. I’m dying to see what’s on your list (other than Moonwalking with Einstein which I think is there). xox

  2. sara says:

    I’ve been in a book club for 15+ years, and that’s a perfect example of “monkey see monkey do” … my kids always want to know what book we’re reading, and after we meet, they ask me how the meeting went. “Did everyone else like the book?” they want to know. “What did you talk about?” I like to tell them about instances where someone else might point out something I hadn’t seen, etc. I hope it helps them realize that books are appreciated and enjoyed even more when you can talk about them with others. 🙂

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