Let’s reframe
Much of what we do is a reframe to help get us through life. Let’s say you hate laundry then. If you’re like me you are of faith, then you use this time to pray and be thankful for the bodies that make the clothes dirt. This is your reframe. Psychologists say, “Change the word to GET TO instead of HAVE TO.” I get to wake up in the middle of the night to make my kid feel safe. These reframes get us through.
Then how do we reframe reading?
This is the question I would like you to have about your household. When working and reading with your kids what is the relationship around it? Do you read? Does your child see you get a library book? Is reading used as a punishment in your house? Basically, what does your child think of when it comes to reading?
Despite our regular efforts, reading often turns into a chore for our kids. Thus creating this negative feeling when your kiddo thinks about reading. How did this happen? It doesn’t matter, but the good news is it’s never too late to change this narrative OR too early to start a good reading narrative.
How do I reframe reading?
Start a conversation about reading. Find out where your child is with it, and how do they feel about it. Is it something they enjoy or does it make their stomach hurt just thinking about it? Be honest with your reading journey. I have a download HERE to help with some conversation starters if you’re stuck.
What relationship should I promote?
Reading is truly a hard, well-earned SUPERPOWER. Reading is a right of passage, after hard work. One doesn’t just pick up a book. Early readers struggle to power through and read. Then, after the work, the entire, world opens up to them. They can experience life through a new lens. This is how reading should be portrayed, in my opinion. It’s not easy and they will struggle.
In Johnathon Haidt’s book The Anxious Generation he discusses the analogy of a tree. You see, in the never-ending search for how to live on Mars scientists are trying to grow food or plant life in a large greenhouse. The trees did something very interesting, they grew, looked healthy, then suddenly crushed under their own weight. The discovery was, that plants need wind. They need wind to grow their roots, to become stronger, and to thrive. What does the wind feel like, good or bad? If you’re me, not good. Wind pushes and throws us out of our footing. So let’s picture wind as a struggle, with reading. Wind might look like, struggles with letter shapes or sounds, dyslexia, comprehension issues, working memory challenges, etc. This wind, once endured, will make our kids stronger readers AS LONG AS we reframe the struggles and challenges to move through.
Because what are parents, but live-in cheerleaders?
