The celebration of Dr. Seuss’s birthday kicks off the annual Read Across America Day in March.
As a mother, I enjoy reading with my children and have many fond memories of Dr. Seuss stories in my children’s lives. It wasn’t that long ago that my not-yet-3-year-old daughter picked up Hop on Pop and started reading it on her own. At first, my husband and I thought she had memorized the words as she had done with so many songs. So I put another book in front of her, The Cat in the Hat, and we were amazed. Our little girl was reading!
Looking back, I’m not sure why we were so surprised. She would generally choose looking at a book over any other activity, including playing outside with her older brother, watching a TV show, or playing with her stuffed animals. Even today, reading is her absolute favorite thing to do, and she enjoys getting a new book over candy and toys.
So as we celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday and Read Across America Day, it is important to remember the enjoyment of reading with our children, no matter their age. There is just something so special about sharing a moment with your child and a book—and such a great moment when you hear them read for the first time on their own.
So let’s all take the time to read with our children every day, especially during this upcoming week. Choose your favorite Dr. Seuss books and let the stories take you back to your own childhood or the early days of reading with your child.
To support Read Across America, turn off the TV, iPad, and video games this week—and instead read a book!
And just remember: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss.
Contributing Writer
Trisha Thomas is the mother of two and serves on the board of directors at a co-op preschool. She has also been a marketer of educational materials for grades PreK–8 for more than 15 years.