Reading Aloud to Teens
Often with our little ones, we read aloud Frog and Toad, the Peter Rabbit Series, Elephant and Piggie books, and the list goes on. But then once our kids learned how to read well, many of us parents gave up that cuddly past-time in favor of our kids reading on their own. But there is magic in the read-aloud for any age. So don’t let it go even when your children become teenagers.
Team Up
My husband and I team up on the read-alouds. He is currently reading aloud the Harry Potter series for the second time through since he and our tween/teens had so much fun in the immersive world of magic, mayhem, and mystery the first time. The themed book club discussions include butterbeer, games, and the movies. We just finished audio booking the entire Chronicles of Narnia series together, and we all enjoyed our book discussion parties with Turkish Delight. It’s a family affair.
Why Read-Aloud
Because we are actually reading it (or listening to it) ourselves, we can stop at any time to walk our children through more mature concepts. Since they are older now, we can spend more time explaining various philosophies and perspectives. Conversations about important topics should be happening throughout our teen’s day and can easily be woven into read-alouds and other organic activities. And with homeschooling, we get to be the one to do it! If you are interested in learning more about the “why” and want more book ideas, try out the “Read-Aloud Revival” podcast by Sarah Mackenzie, or read her book.
How to Do it
1. Choose a book or series
A couple favorites include The Wingfeather Saga a The Penderwicks, and we are starting The Lord of the Rings this fall. We love picking a series because our kids truly connect to the characters and feel more immersed in those literary worlds. We also choose books that are non-fiction. I love the Who is… biography series (American History is linked here). It’s a good starting point to discuss historical events and perhaps will pique your teen’s interest to pick up a more mature edition. Family read-alouds of theological books are helpful for equipping your teens in the faith. R.C. Sproul’s book Essential Truths of the Christian Faith is currently at our kitchen table for dinner discussions.
To determine if your choice book or series is the right maturity level for your teen, you can search the Common Sense Media website for ratings of ages for categories such as violence, role models, etc.
2. Choose a location.
My husband has a regular spot. He sits in our hallway to read Harry Potter to our tween/teens after they go to bed. He reads to them from 9-10pm every night while they calm down their minds and bodies to go to sleep. It’s a really sweet time for all four of them. My tween is currently loving Anne of Green Gables, so I read to her in the family room while she makes crafts. My teen daughter also enjoys listening while she swings in her hammock just down the hall from us (even though she already read it independently). An added bonus: with the edition we read, there are letters, maps, and other time period mementos in book pockets which help it come alive. I love this series of books from Handwritten Classics.
When we audio book, we listen together on our longer car rides. We listened to all the Narnia books this way. You really can read anywhere, while you wait, while you picnic, or at Starbucks. Carry your book with you in your backpack or purse, and it’s always a great go-to.
3. Now Read.
Read with strength. Read with energy. Use different voices. Make the story come alive. It doesn’t matter if they are 10 or 18 years old; I’m 47 years old and I still delight in hearing my husband’s read aloud accents. If you don’t have the time or energy to provide a positive reading experience, make good use of the audio book options. It’s nice to have a balance. That way they get to hear other voices and the complicated words pronounced correctly (and sometimes with a British accent!). Over time we have built up to where my teens can now listen up to 2-3 hours at a time.
Your kids won’t always jump at the suggestion to read aloud, but don’t let their grumbling stop you. Show them that this can be a wonderful activity for both of you. Train them to use their ears and listen. Show them YouTubes about the content so they can connect with it. Make a lasting memory by finishing a book with a party, the movie, or even a themed outing. Revel in beautiful words and new experiences.
Read-alouds are amazing educators. It gives your teens new perspectives, they travel the world, they see places they’ve never been, meet people they wouldn’t ordinarily meet, learn new vocabulary, and drink in new ideas and philosophies. And you get to be there for all of it. No matter how your teen’s educational path may change as they get older, keep reading aloud as a family necessity - for all ages.
We talk a lot about reading aloud to our kids in our recently published book Hesitant to Homeschool? Answers to 20 Common Questions. If you like these suggestions and want more tips and ideas, buy our book!
