It’s a typical Monday evening. The clock strikes eight, and my partner and I call our kids upstairs for bedtime. Most evenings, they comply without a fuss; other nights, they stomp up as if they’re a herd of disgruntled alpacas. After a seemingly endless series of antics, which often results in errant blobs of toothpaste finding their way to the carpet, they eventually settle into their rooms, waiting for us. Gone are the days of diapers, bottles, and sleepy smiles; now, we navigate eye rolls, attitudes, and the occasional “OK, Boomer.” Yet, one cherished routine remains in our household: reading aloud together.
When people discover that my partner and I read to our teens, the reaction is often disbelief, accompanied by comments like, “We don’t have time for that.” I completely understand! As our children enter their teenage years, life speeds up faster than a runaway train, making time a rare luxury. We juggle countless responsibilities, and some days, it feels like we’re barely treading water. Despite the chaos, my partner and I are steadfast in our commitment to this nightly ritual, and it has turned out to be one of the most rewarding choices we’ve made as parents.
The shift to reading aloud to teens happened almost overnight. One day, we waved goodbye to the fantastical realms of children’s literature, and the next, we welcomed works from authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Neil Gaiman into our home. Suddenly, we faced new challenges in maintaining consistency and selecting appropriate content.
Homework, marching band, piano lessons, sports—the list goes on. Sound familiar? Our Google calendar looks like a chaotic mosaic. So how do we manage to keep up with our reading sessions? As someone who tends to be all-or-nothing, I’ve had to learn to embrace the unpredictability of our schedule. Our lives are hectic, with basketball practices and late-night performances sometimes cutting into our routine. We aim for three nights of reading each week; if we hit that mark, we consider it a win; if not, we simply roll with it.
My teens have bypassed young adult literature entirely, diving straight into adult fiction. This shift means dealing with more mature themes, but it also opens the door for meaningful discussions on topics like poverty, racism, and bullying. The stories create an ideal backdrop for deep conversations about the pressing issues facing their generation, allowing them to engage and ask questions in a safe space.
I know why I’m committed to this practice, but what about my partner? As a father with a demanding job, he values the bonding time it provides. It’s a moment in the day that he dedicates to focus on each child individually. Plus, he genuinely enjoys it! As our kids have developed their tastes, he’s adopted a more collaborative approach to choosing what to read. When our daughter became interested in horror, he suggested Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a classic that aligned perfectly with her interests. They raced through its unforgettable tale of creation and ambition together. He also recommended The Hobbit to our eldest when the book gained popularity after its film adaptation, and our son, a budding fan of role-playing games, eagerly agreed.
A fun side note: my partner has a knack for character voices, and he never stopped employing them even as the kids outgrew that phase. The Hobbit became a delightful canvas for his voice acting talents—just ask our children, who will tell you how entertaining it is!
After years of reading together, I’ve developed a solid understanding of my teens’ vocabularies. When we encounter unfamiliar words, I’ll ask if they know the meaning. If not, I encourage them to infer it from context. Just the other day, my youngest casually dropped the word “plethora” into conversation, and I couldn’t help but smile, thrilled to see him embracing new vocabulary.
Our read-aloud sessions spark discussions. I prompt my children to think critically about the material: Did they comprehend it? What are their opinions on certain themes? When they were younger, I often asked for plot summaries to gauge their attention, but now that they’re older, I delve into deeper questions. For instance, while reading Lord of the Flies, my son grappled with the characters’ descent into savagery, leading to rich conversations about fear and desperation.
Through our readings, we’ve explored themes of society and class in The Outsiders, community and identity in The Graveyard Book, and the intricacies of power in Ender’s Game. We’ve journeyed through different eras, continents, and genres, including poetry and memoir.
Recently, we packed away several boxes of books, including board books, and I found myself a bit emotional as I sealed the last box. Titles like Goodnight Moon now carry a new weight. Soon, I’ll be sending my eldest off to college, and the reality of an empty nest is starting to sink in.
I always hear parents say, “Enjoy these moments; they grow up so fast.” Before I had teens, I would chuckle at that sentiment, but now I understand its truth. Days felt long back then, but now it’s clear: this time is fleeting. My partner and I are determined to savor every moment during these teenage years, weaving love and connection through our nightly reading. I hope that when they look back on these years, they’ll remember the laughter and warmth we shared.
We are always #readaloudstrong.
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Keyphrase: Reading Aloud to Teens
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