How Dads Can Help Children Become Better Readers

The Benefit of Dads Reading Aloud to Their Kids

I remember going to the local library and listening to an Education Expert lecture about the importance of reading aloud to your children. This expert said children whose dads read to them are more likely to become avid readers in adulthood.  One of the reasons is men’s lower voices tend to command more attention and sometimes can be better heard from children due to the lower frequency of the sound wave. For example, people with slight hearing loss find it easier to hear men’s voices than women and children’s voices.  Also, a Harvard University study found that dads reading bedtime stories is better for children’s language development.

How Can Dads Help a Child Become a Better Reader?

Dads should read aloud to their child frequently. Also, children can observe how their dad enunciates words and his reading rhythm. Furthermore,  do hands-on activities where the child can experience the words in the book. For example, if the child is reading about animals on Wednesday, take the book with you to the zoo on Saturday. Show the child the animals in the book while observing them at the zoo. This allows the child to see the words and experience it simultaneously. Below is a video of Read Aloud Strategies to Make Books Fun For Kids!

How do Books Help Children’s Development?

Children will learn life skills through experience. However, books can help a child’s development because they see how book characters solve problems and handle difficult situations. This is why it’s important for dads to read various types of books frequently to their children. The child receives a male’s perspective on how to handle issues through discussion encouraged from reading books. Also dads are given the opportunity to discuss a variety of topics through books which can range from friendship to feelings and emotion.

A Fun Book Dads Can Read to Children

*This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using the links.

These reasons, along with others, is why I like to find books where a dad is one of the main characters. I found a book, Be Glad Your Dad Is Not an Octopus! by Matthew Logelin, Sara Jensen, and Jared Chapman, that is entertaining and educational.

Why We Like This Book

Along with the benefit of dads reading aloud, this book highlights the positive aspects of fathers such as telling funny stories or singing silly songs. It also stresses the negative side of dads, from a kid’s perspective, like being bossy or grouchy. Sometimes kids wish their dad’s were someone else, but the author warns children to be careful what they wish for because it be could way worse. The book gives humorous scenarios of how it could be worse. One page reads, “Be glad your dad is not a tortoise because everything would take forever.” Another example is “Be glad your dad is not a Dung Beetle, because he would pile poop in your room, (Seriously, that would be really gross.)”

Fun Educational Components of the Book

The animals discussed in this book provide children with insight on how they function. At the end, the author gives more information about each animal in the book. When dung beetles pile poop and eat it, they help rid the earth of it. If they didn’t, the whole world would be covered in it! My husband and son had a great time reading this book! My son found this funny and entertaining!!!

Fun Ideas to Supplement Book

Take it a step further and do a fun activity to supplement this book. Below are some ideas…

1. Role play a tortoise and do everything around the house slowly.
2. Get a balled up brown sock, representing poop, and leave it beside your child’s bed.
   • Leave a note saying “Daddy the Dung Beetle left this poop for you!”

Get this book and let your child laugh and learn while dad reads. P.S. If dad is not present, get other family members and friends, like granddads, uncles, and mentors, to read to your child. Happy Reading! OUR KID FRIENDLY FAST & FUN STUDY TRICKS FOR BETTER GRADES: 9 FUN STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN LEARNING AND SCHOOL HAS $29 OFF THE ORIGINAL PRICE. Our books are available on Amazon, “Teach Your Toddler to Read Through Play,” “Fun Easy Ways to Teach Your Toddler to Write, and “Teach Your Child About Money Through Play.” THE TEACH YOUR TODDLER TO READ THROUGH PLAY ONLINE COURSE HAS A $97 DISCOUNT. Click here for the PAYMENT PLAN OPTION!