Building Super Readers, Strong Boundaries, and Stronger Kids

In this heartwarming episode of Reading With Your Kids, Jed welcomes back Pam Allyn, creator of World Read Aloud Day and co-author of Every Child a Super Reader, to celebrate the power of reading aloud. Pam and Jed reflect on how the greatest benefit of reading with kids isn't just academic success—it's the deep, lasting bond that forms between caring adults and children. Pam shares moving memories of her father reading the sports pages to her at the dinner table, even into her teen years, showing that read‑aloud time never has to end. Together, she and Jed explore how reading signals to kids, "I'm here for you. I believe in you." They discuss the importance of being authentic reading role models, understanding the basics of phonics and comprehension, and gently building kids' reading stamina so that reading feels joyful, not exhausting. In the second half of the episode, Jed is joined by Ashley Bendiksen, author of A Kids Book About Boundaries. Ashley explains how her book helps children ages 5–9 understand emotional, social, and physical boundaries in everyday situations, using clear language and practice phrases families can use together. She and Jed talk about self‑advocacy, online safety, and why early, open conversations about hard topics actually empower kids rather than frighten them. Ashley also shares her personal journey from surviving abuse to becoming a national speaker and advocate, and how writing for children allows her to equip kids—and the adults who love them—with the tools to stay safe, speak up, and know their worth.