Levar Burton, Actor/Producer who Co-Founded Reading Rainbow Kidz and the father of two understands the importance of reading to your children. In fact, Burton is taking on the initiative of speaking out about the importance of dads reading to their kids. According to Burton, who wrote on The Father Factor: The Official Blog of National Fatherhood Initiative, ‘reading is one of the best ways I know to make great quality out of scarce quantity.’
Let’s face it – busy lives can interrupt quality time. Smartphones and social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have made it difficult for dads to read to their children. While we’ve advanced in technology and continue to do so, dads must never forget the basics. In going back to the basics,(reading to your child) two components will happen: ‘the closeness that comes from sharing stories together; imagining, pretending and learning that few other activities provide. It also gives them proven educational advantages they will gain from for the rest of their lives,’ according to Burton. Studies have shown that a child’s academic success is greatly influenced when they have parents who read to them.
Why this story on the importance of dads? Because dads for the most part don’t take part in establishing a close intimate relationship with their children. Mothers have always been seen as the caregiver (and now the breadwinner) in many households while dads have been seen as ‘more playful.’ That’s why it’s important for dads to cut off the television, get a book, and curl up with their child and read to them. Through reading to their children, dads will become closer to their child and therefore open up their child’s imagination to a larger world.
Children do pay attention to your actions. We’ve heard the saying ‘children watch what you do and it’s through what you do that they are influenced.’ Well dads, it’s time to make children a top priority. Spending quality time with them will do wonders for their emotional and mental well-being. While kids understand how tired and/or stressed out a parent is after work, the challenge is making them a top priority. In other words, letting reading became a daily habit to them that they look forward to it.
Dr. Sinclair Grey III is an inspirational speaker, motivator, author, organizer and liberator of persons from all intellectual, social and cultural walks of life. He is a committed advocate for communal change. Email: drgrey@sinclairgrey.org.
Article Appeared @http://www.blackbluedog.com/2013/12/news/levar-burton-reminds-dads-of-the-importance-of-reading-to-their-kids/