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If you have not developed a habit of reading aloud to your children, you may not have immediate buy-in from your children. A low-tech half hour with a book might not thrill them! The effort to establish this habit will help develop focus, conversation, and new knowledge, but you might need a few tricks up your sleeve. One of my favorite ways to engage reluctant readers is reading in unexpected places, which often adds a layer of excitement and anticipation. Autumn is the perfect time for outdoor reading adventures.
Whispers of breezes, falling temperatures, and glowing colors often beckon us outdoors. Bike rides, neighborhood walks, hikes in the woods, and backyard bonfires might fill a Saturday afternoon. Have you considered reading a book on your journey? Have you ever gathered around a fire bowl and read a story? Take a break and catch your breath with a chapter or two from a novel. Authors Laura Ingalls Wilder, Lynn Reid Banks, E.B. White, and C.S. Lewis all appeal to school age children. You don’t have to tarry long. Just long enough to hook interest and munch a snack. Hot chocolate and cookies bring even the most hesitant listeners forward.
You don’t even have to leave your home for an outdoor reading time. Your adventure may take place in the pages of a book, but it has so much more intrigue on a blanket in the backyard. Some of my favorite moments have involved relocating our reading time from indoors to outdoors. It seems attention is a bit keener and moods are a bit lighter.
Any book can travel outdoors with you, but you can also use the book itself as the catalyst for an outside adventure. The common crow suddenly becomes more interesting after reading Jean Craighead George’s Crowbar. Based on a true story, a young boy finds a baby crow. The boy and bird have an amazing journey getting to know each other. Eventually, the bird says goodbye as it leaves with another flock of crows, but the boy has so many new things to ponder… think how much more interesting the common crow could become to a child after hearing this story!
After reading The Boy Who Drew Birds by Jacqueline Davies, an autumn walk through the woods might spark wonder in your young naturalist or artist. Do migrating birds return to the same location each spring? Could I keep a record of the birds I see? This story has wonderful pictures, beautiful language, and examples of patience and ingenuity. John James sat perfectly still when observing birds in a cave, and “They ignored him as if he were an old stump.” Yet, this young boy was so full of energy that he often flabbergasted the housekeeper with his rowdy ways! What encouragement John James could be to a busy young bird enthusiast!
Many books lead to outdoor adventures including The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang and The Mystery of the Monarchs by Barb Rosenstock. What would it be like to be Margaret Lowman and build a canopy of bridges through the top of the rainforest? Do you think she was ever scared or discouraged? After fifty years of investigating, Fred and Nora Urquhart sat on a log in the mountains of Mexico blanketed by millions of monarchs. How did they feel? Such questions posed to a child prompt much enthusiasm for learning. The back of both of these books is filled with interesting informational material. The facts suddenly become meaningful and relevant with the backdrop of a story.
Children thrive outdoors. Grab an old quilt, a book, and some cookies. Share a story and go on an outdoor excursion together! It might be something simple like counting crows or chasing butterflies in a park. Maybe go on a birdwatching trip. Or you might try finding a suspension bridge to climb! Whatever you do, take time to pause and wonder alongside your young adventurer!
