This post is sponsored by Circle Round. Thanks, Circle Round!
One of the things I love about Annabel’s teacher is how much she wants her class to enjoy reading. Every night, the kids are encouraged to spend 15 minutes reading anything they like. This can be a book, a cereal box, a comic strip…anything that your kid will enjoy. She believes (as do I) that reading should be a pleasure and not a chore. Gone are the reading charts and calendars, which is so lovely.
Her teacher also reminded the parents that, just because our kids can read, doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from being read to. This is something I’ve been guilty of slacking on when it comes to Annie. Since she loves to read, I often have her do the reading aloud in our house. James loves listening to her, and I love hearing her reading progress. Plus, it has the added benefit of making her feel pride in her abilities. Still, I felt bad about not reading to her as much as I should have been.
But then! A friend told me about WBUR’s new storytelling podcast called Circle Round. It’s so perfect for us! The stories are aimed at kids ages 4 to 10, and come from the same producing team behind the Modern Love podcast (which I am obsessed with). Each episode is narrated by Rebecca Sheir, who has been a public radio host for ages, and feature theater, film and TV actors performing carefully selected folktales from around the world. The first episode we listened to had Jason Alexander (you know, George from Seinfeld!) doing a voice, and his inflection cracked us all up.
It was nice to see the kids listen so attentively to the stories, and we could listen in the car, which was an added bonus. Without pictures to look at, I wasn’t sure how it would go! But Annabel absolutely loved the two episodes of the show we’ve heard so far. She even sat down to draw a picture of the second story we listened to (“Stella and the Dragon,” with voice acting by Kathryn Hahn from Bad Moms)!
Circle Round stories represent cultures from around the world, and episodes are designed to spark conversations on everything from kindness to persistence to generosity. We had some really great conversations with Annie about appreciating what you have, and using your head to solve problems. It still blows my mind that I can have deep discussions with my child! Future episodes will go live every Tuesday, and will include familiar voices like Jon Cryer, Lou Diamond Phillips, Dayo Okeniyi, and Sela Ward.
Peeps, I hiiiiighly recommend this podcast. You can subscribe via iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app, or go directly to the Circle Round website to listen. Circle Round is our new Tuesday ritual!
(PS For those of you in the Boston area, there’s going to be a launch party Saturday, September 24 at the Boston Children’s Museum (jealous!). For more information and to register, visit this link.)
Auntie_M says:
This is a great tip!!!! Thanks!!!!
I love reading with my nieces and nephews but this could be fun too!!!
Amanda says:
Our kids also love the podcast WOW in the World. It is science-oriented and fun to listen to!
Kate says:
We also love Wow in the World! My four-year-old is addicted to the theme song (“I don’t know what you’ve been told but we’re in a golden age! So many discoveries that are jumping off the page!”). He makes me start it over if he forgets to sing along.
Since the first season of Wow in the World just ended and there’s a break in new episodes, I’m excited to hear about Circle Round– we’re going to give it a try today.
Heather says:
And we’re going to start Wow in the World! You guys are awesome!
jordan says:
this is great!! As a former literacy teacher to emerging/ struggling readers, there is so much power in being read TO, even if you’re a fluent reader!! Study upon study has proven this fact! I read to my kids almost every day when I taught, it gave them a chance to hear what a fluent reader sounded like and gives them a chance to use their comprehension skills as I go.
I listen to LeVar Burton’s adult Reading Rainbow podcast because sometimes I just enjoy listening to a story!
Sarah says:
Another resource is Audible, where you can choose books for any age. I HIGHLY recommend Beverly Cleary’s “Ramona” books read by the wonderful Stockard Channing (perfect for the ages of your 2…I think they both would enjoy) and the ‘Little House’ series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, performed so so entertainingly by Cherry Jones.
Heather says:
Oh, this is such a good idea, and Mike has an Audible subscrption! Thank you for the tip!
Lisa says:
My favorite parenting tip of all time is audio books in the car. Everyone sits and listens, there is no fighting and that ‘dead’ time is well spent being read to. I love listening to them, too. They are great for days with too much traffic or long road trips, especially. Our library has a huge collection – so…free! We have listened to countless stories over the years and my kids still love them even now that they are older.