Ep. 127 - Benefits of Reading Aloud to Kids - Even After They Can Read

Should you still be reading aloud to your kids after they can read on their own? It turns out this is one of the most settled questions in all of education — and the answer has been sitting in a government report since 1985. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith walks through what the research actually says about reading aloud to kids, why it never expires, and why the book on your couch may outrank half of what's on your lesson plan.🎁 Free Resource: My Curriculum RecommendationsI spill the tea! No paid sponsorship placements! Grab the list, by subject, of the most reputable homeschool programs on the market (in my opinion).👉 Free DownloadIn this episode, you'll learn:Why reading aloud to kids is called the single most important activity for building a readerWhat the million word gap study found about read-alouds before kindergartenWhy the rare words in books almost never show up in everyday conversationWhat MRI scans revealed about a child's brain during a read-aloudHow animated screens do the imagining that a book leaves to your childWhy reading aloud to older kids does NOT make them lazy readersThe difference between constrained and unconstrained reading skillsWhat kids themselves say they want most from being read toSponsors:BJU Press Homeschool✔ Flexible curriculum to fit your family's needs✔ Biblical worldview and critical thinking built in✔ Hands-on learning for every grade level👉 View SamplesCTC Math✔ Get 50% off my favorite online math program✔ Adaptive lessons so kids build confidence at their own pace✔ Teaching, grading, and testing — all done for you!👉 Free Trial — or purchase with the homeschool discountLearningRx✔ Backed by 35 years of research✔ Real long-term help with ADHD and dyslexia✔ Strengthens attention, memory, reading, writing, and math✔ Use code HOME50 for $50 off your cognitive skills assessment👉 Get $50 Off Your Cognitive Skills AssessmentSummit Healthshare✔ Save 40–60% vs. traditional health insurance✔ See any doctor — no networks, no permission slips✔ Free labs, office visits, prescriptions on select plans👉 View Health Plans & SavingsResources mentioned:Free Quote of the Week Notecard — the Emilie Buchwald quote from this episode, ready to printMy Curriculum Recommendations — the free list, by subjectAll of Christy-Faith's free homeschool resourcesThe Christy-Faith List — Find homeschool-friendly providersThrive Homeschool CommunityHomeschool Rising — Christy-Faith's bookRelated episodes:Ep. 107 — How to Reduce Screen Time for KidsEp. 61 — Are Schools Killing a Love of Learning?Ep. 92 — Behind the Screen (Part 1/6) — the start of Christy-Faith's vulnerability series⭐ New to Homeschooling? Start with Episode 101 — the New Homeschooler Series is the best place to begin.Connect with Christy-Faith:Instagram: @christy_faith_homeschoolTikTok: @christy_faithWebsite: christy-faith.comBook: Homeschool Rising🎧 Love the show? Follow, subscribe, and leave a review wherever you listen — it helps more homeschool families find us! (00:00) - Should You Be Reading Aloud to Your Kids? (01:53) - Welcome + Why This Episode (02:50) - When Reading Aloud Feels Like a Chore (04:03) - How Story Time Became “Literacy” (06:55) - Am I Doing Enough? (07:35) - The Million Word Gap (08:47) - Why Book Words Beat Everyday Words (12:37) - Inside Your Child's Brain During a Read-Aloud (13:57) - What Screens Do Instead (14:54) - “My Kid Can Read Now — Can I Stop?” (16:22) - Constrained vs. Unconstrained Skills (17:14) - Lifting Big Kids to a Higher Ledge (18:01) - Beowulf and the Seventh-Grade Reading Circle (19:49) - Why Kids Love Being Read To (22:39) - What Kids Say They Want Most (23:52) - Family Read-Alouds (24:35) - Start Tonight — Even Five Minutes (27:15) - Reading Is Worth It (28:05) - The Quote and the Free Notecard