25 reasons to read aloud to your family

I just finished reading In 27 Days to my sister, who loved it quite as much as I did. Now she wants me to start another book, and that got me to thinking about what a cool activity it is for bookworms to read aloud to family.

I have read a lot of books to my sis. The Lost Books by Ted Dekker. The DragonKeeper Chronicles by Donita K. Paul. All the Chronicles of Narnia books. Various standalones. She's not a huge bookworm on her own, but she's such a fan of all those stories that I read her.




I read aloud a lot. I have, for the longest time.

I can't quite remember how it started, but I guess as the oldest kid in the family, it's always been my duty to entertain my younger siblings, and the bookworm in me figured out that reading to them would be the simplest way to keep them occupied and entertain myself.

So even if you don't have younger siblings, or if your "younger siblings" are grown up, it's still a great past time. I definitely recommend you reading to your family.

Bc ...


  • It's fun
  • It's like roleplaying
  • You get to try to speak like various personalities
  • And show emotion
  • You get to overcome your fear of "performance" (some of us have it more than others)
  • You learn to speak better
  • And become more eloquent
  • You will experience the "flow of words"
  • This will give you an "ear" for listening to the flow of your own writing
  • It helps you avoid skipping important sections or scenes like you might otherwise do
  • You get to share your favorite stories with others almost as if you were the second author!!
  • And you can be proud of your knowledge when they beg for #spoilerinformation
  • You get to watch your audiences' faces
  • And how they hang onto your every word
  • You get to reread the book for the third time (or however many times you've read it before)
  • Someday you can even narrate audio books!!
  • You get to say these tongue twisting sentences ...
  • But sometimes you find your reading actually sounds like poetry
  • It's a great way to keep others occupied 
  • It fights boredom
  • Great activity for rainy days
  • It entertains everyone (including yourself)
  • It might convert reluctant readers into avid bookworms
  • They'll all appreciate you for it :D
  • Maybe even ask you to do it again ...

You are a bookworm. Naturally, it should be your pleasure to share your passion with others. And this a great way to do it XD



DO YOU READ ALOUD TO OTHERS?
IF SO, WHAT BOOKS HAVE BECOME YOUR FAVORITES?

p.s. I have a blog button (see sidebar >>)!! Thanks to Sarah Grace for help with html XD Now you can take me with you and put me on your buttons page ^.^


41 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Great post! I don't tend to read out loud, but you make some excellent points on why it's a good idea!

      Also, your blog button isn't showing up.

      ~Ivie
      Ivie Writes

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    2. No one use the link. I did it wrong. XD

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    3. HAHA THANKS. You ought to try it out sometime XD

      Oh dear what a bother ... I can see it now. Does it work for you?? (in any case it's the html that matters :D)

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  2. I don’t usually read out loud (my sisters tend to hate it when I do for some reason) but my dad’s been reading out loud to all three of us for as long as I can remember. I’m a sophomore in high school now and we’re making our way through a bunch of classic dystopians. Right now, it’s Brave New World—next up is 1984, I believe. It’s definitely a huge gift to have someone consistently read to you. ^_^ This was an awesome post! Makes me want to try reading out loud again.

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    1. Oh that's too bad ... maybe they prefer peace and quiet?? AWW YES PARENTS READING OUT LOUD IS THE BEST THING OF EVER. Whoohoo dystopians!! Not that I've ever read any classic ones except the Giver lol I need go check out those you mentioned *nods*

      Ahh thanks so much Faith ^.^

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  3. Great post. My husband and I have read out loud to one another. We've read, The Chronicles of Narnia and Our Intrepid Heroine by Ness Kingsley. It's great fun. :)

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    1. Thank you!! That sounds like such a good thing! Apparently it's not only kids who enjoy being read to! Yay for Narnia!

      Thanks for your comment ^.^

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  4. I know my younger siblings would love it if I read out loud more for them, and I'd love to try doing this more often. My throat gets so sore in the process sometimes though xDDD Especially when they say "More! More!". But this has sparked a new idea to turn reading out loud for them into a routine.

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    1. Ikr, isn't that just the thing? THEY WANT MORE, but where's our time?! OH YES YES YES MY THROAT SUFFERS SO BADLY SOMETIMES!!

      I used to say "More! More!" to my mom a lot and never understood why she'd say, "No more!" until now XD

      Hurray! Go you! I should go for routine as well!!

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  5. I had read my WIPs to my sibling for a bit, but that died off. Maybe I'll consider picking it back up again. :D Thanks for the post!

    D.G. Snapper | silverphoenixwriter.blogspot.com

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    1. OH WOW YOU READ YOUR WIP!!?? My sister would absolutely adore it if I did that, but I wouldn't until it's ready!! And then I hope they'll read it themselves ...

      Thank you for your comment Snapper!! <3

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  6. My mom still reads aloud to us, it gets a little annoying sometimes because she'll be like, "Everyone stop what you're doing, sit down on the couch, I am going to read." XD

    But I do secretly still enjoy it. Great post!

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    1. AHA YAY! My mom reads to my younger siblings every so often (and usually it's me saying to them, "hey, ask mom to read to you" just so that I can eavesdrop lol) and I always listen in!!

      I secretly enjoy it more than my sisters even, so *highfive* Thank you!!

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  7. I'm reading a story to my younger sister, and she LOVES it. <3 Despite how dry my mouth gets, I really enjoy reading aloud to her! xD

    Great post, Lisa!! <3

    Lila - The Red-Hooded Writer

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    1. GO YOU!! I'm glad you find it such a great past-time!!

      AWW THANK YOU <3

      (ps how do you make a clickable link in the comments?? I never figured it out o.o)

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    3. This is where I found how to do it! :)

      https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-leave-clickable-link-blog-comments-mark-thomas

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    4. OH YOU'RE JUST A LIFE SAVER THANKS A MILLION LILA <333

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  8. I loved it when my mom would read to me as a kid. I think that's why I also picked up audiobooks in order to sleep to.

    You know, it used to be a social activity with the family or with friends to read aloud while doing handwork during the olden days. I think we need to revive the tradition!

    Beautiful post, Lisa!!

    Catherine
    catherinesrebellingmuse.blogspot.com

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    1. YES I LOVED IT TOO. Wait ... you listen to audio books when you go to sleep?? I totally ought to do that, but then guess who would stay up until 3 am?? HAHAH YES #ME.

      Oh wow, it was?? YES WE NEED TO REVIVE THAT!!

      Thanks so much Catherine!!

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    2. HAHAHA, yeah I do, at least most nights. I sorta picked up the habit a few years ago in order to combat some nightmares I was having on a regular basis. I sometimes have that problem too - especially when I get interested in the story. But of course, I can't listen just any ol' random story....only other problem I have is that I can't seem to find any decent headphones that are comfortable to sleep in so I can't use it when I travel or stay anywhere (bummer).

      Oh yes, it was! It was a form of entertainment (before TV of course), that could be educational. I wonder if that is how a lot of old books became classics - people would buy them and read them aloud to others.

      You're welcome!!

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  9. I actually wrote something like this before, although it pertained more towards writing! I agree with it being a rainy day activity, too-- I used to do that all the time, back when I was a kid. ^.^

    xoxo Abigail Lennah | ups & downs

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    1. YOU DID? I need to go dig in your archives now *nodnod*
      Rainy day activities are so handy to have! It seems like most of us have good memories of being read to as a kid, so I'm happy ^.^

      <3

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  10. This is so interesting! I don't usually read aloud (to my siblings or otherwise) but I probably should so that I slow down and actually remember some of the stuff I read. My mom used to read a lot to me when I was little and I loved it. ;)

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    1. Thanks! You and me both, girl... I was recently listening to an audiobook that I had both read AND listened to before and I was like ... "WAIT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED? I don't remember anything at all ..." XD

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  11. YES. Yes to everything in this post.

    I spent years reading aloud to my sister and brother. Mom always read books to us for school. We all take turns reading Bible passages in family worship (splitting chapters as evenly as possible). Dad told us stories before bed. I read books aloud while walking around just to help myself concentrate on the words. I even read aloud to Evangeline in return for a drawing. But reading aloud is something I love doing - it helps me understand what I'm reading (or else I read it too fast), and I get to share a story, which is wonderful!

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    1. AHH I'M SO GLAD YOU AGREE!!

      You are a real bookworm family haha!! My parents used to read Bible stories regularly for school/bed time, and my mom used to read to us a lot before we became the fluent readers we are now!! AHAHAHA so much YES to reading too fast... it's awesome you related to this post ^.^ thanks girl <3

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  12. I used to read aloud to my stuffed animals as a kid and I would LIVE for story time at school, but I don't do it anymore :0 Maybe I'll try it again sometime :D

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    1. OH YOU DID? Now that's a new idea :D Actually, reading out loud even when no one is listening isn't a bad idea at all either! You still get many benefits :)

      Thanks for commenting <3

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  13. As a child, I LOVED being read aloud to, and I know enjoy reading to my nephews and niece and whoever else will lend their ears.

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    1. SAME, LISSA <3 Wow your nephews and nieces must love you for that!! Keep up the good work! :D

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  14. *falls from the sky, lands in a ninja roll* TAG!! YOU'RE IT!

    http://iviewrites.blogspot.com/2018/01/myfirstpostrevisited-blogging-tag.html

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    1. WHAT A DRAMATIC ENTRANCE *claps*

      Ohhhkayyy thanks ... who wants to revisit my first post though XD?

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  15. I grew up with my Dad reading me and my brothers Lord of the Rings. Don't like to do it myself.

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    1. HA. HA. HAA. Such a good point... Having Lord of the Rings read to you is such a good idea... reading on your own is. so. much. work. :DD Totally agree with you lol

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  16. Great post! One of my favorite memories from working at summer camp was reading To Kill a Mockingbird aloud to two coworkers. They'd ask me to read it, whatever part I was at myself, and just lay on the couches and fall asleep as I read.

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    1. Thanks so much Maddy <3 OMW THAT WOULD BE AN AWESOME MEMORTY LOL Like think about it, your reading was that good that it relaxed them to fall asleep? YOU MUST BE A GOOD READER XD

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    2. I think it was more exhaustion from working in the heat, but I like to think it was because of my reading ;)

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  17. I used to read aloud to my little siblings all the time, and I always loved being read allowed to by my mom when I was growing up. I miss it a lot, and this post reminded me that I should try to read aloud so much more!

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    1. Aww those are literally some of the best memories of ever <3 Hope you have such opportunities again and that they are as rewarding and enjoyable as they used to be!! :D Glad you could relate to the post. Thanks for your comment!! ^.^

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