When our three children were at the tender age of youth, my spouse and I dedicated a minimum of an hour every evening to read them captivating stories. The commendation of my first-grader’s teacher, who inquired about our methods for raising such intelligent children, reinforced my belief in the power of reading. While reading played a significant role, our approach was multifaceted, incorporating travel, summer programs, and monthly mail-order subscription kits. It became evident that we were onto something extraordinary when my daughter’s first-grade teacher, who had also taught my son the previous year, pulled me aside with curiosity, asking, “What did you do to help your children become such bright readers?” Naturally, I was flattered and filled with pride, yet I couldn’t offer any explanation other than “reading.” I proceeded to explain how my spouse and I would gather on the couch each night, reading three books to each child, accumulating at least an hour of reading time to cover around ten books. Our collective love for reading transformed the library into a cherished family destination. On numerous occasions, the librarians were astonished by the substantial number of books we checked out, often exceeding 40 or 50 at once. Their disbelief led them to question, “Are you planning to read all of these?” To which my spouse and I confidently replied, “Indeed, we shall read them all, quite possibly multiple times.” Our purpose was not to strategically read for the sole purpose of achieving academic success; we genuinely enjoyed reading and cherished our nightly bonding experiences as a family.
Fast forward 11 years, just as my daughter was preparing to graduate from high school and my son was on the verge of receiving both his high school diploma and his associate’s degree from our county’s early college high school program, I received further confirmation of the effectiveness of our methods. My eldest, who maintained a flawless record of straight A’s throughout high school, may have even secured the top academic position in his class. Unfortunately, the prestigious North Carolina School of Science and Math, a boarding school for high school juniors and seniors, refrains from publishing class ranks, making it impossible to determine his exact standing. With all three of my children now attending college, I reflect on the various approaches we employed to ensure their success in academia.
Subscribing to kids’ magazines delivered directly to our door brought great joy to my children. They eagerly anticipated the arrival of National Geographic Kids and Highlights magazines. As they matured, an amicable system was established, whereby they would rotate turns to have the first reading of the magazine, marking it on the wall calendar for future reference. Additionally, we subscribed to monthly mail-order kits tailored to kids’ interests and passions. Whether the child was a culinary enthusiast, a music lover, an athlete, or an arts and crafts aficionado, there was a subscription box available. In their early years, I enrolled my kids in a service called Which Way USA, which offered educational materials about the different states. Each month, they received an activity booklet, a child-friendly state map, and other state-related items. My eldest was particularly enthralled by cryptography, leading me to sign him up for a monthly subscription box focused on espionage. Today, if my offspring were growing up in the present era, I would register them for the Little Passports World Edition, an initiative that imparts knowledge about a new country and culture each month.
Enrolling my kids in educational summer programs held by the University of North Carolina at Asheville, namely Super Saturday, further contributed to their academic prowess. This esteemed program catered to students from third to eighth grade and offered an array of fascinating classes, including magic, website development, chess, drawing, physics, creative writing, photography, and model rocketry. These classes introduced my children to subjects typically reserved for older individuals. Moreover, since the courses took place on a university campus, my kids became well-acquainted with the atmosphere of college and interacted with like-minded peers and adults who shared their interests. Similar programs might be available in your local vicinity, so I encourage you to explore the offerings provided by nearby high schools, colleges, libraries, symphonies, and arts councils.
Nurturing my children’s interests became a priority whenever they expressed fascination with a new subject. I wholeheartedly dedicated myself to encouraging their curiosity. During middle school, my eldest developed an interest in inventing games and constructing languages, prompting me to purchase books on those topics. Likewise, when my middle child reached seventh grade, he expressed a desire to build a computer, and we procured the necessary parts, observing in awe as he successfully completed the task. In sixth grade, my youngest yearned to play the viola, and thus we rented her an instrument. Presently, she holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance and continues to pursue her master’s degree in the same field. Over the years, my children dabbled in various activities, including baseball, soccer, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, cycling, camping, hiking, coding, stamp collecting, painting, and much more. Encouraging them to explore a range of interests allowed them to discover their true passions.
Prioritizing experiences rather than material wealth, I eagerly embarked on numerous adventures with my children. Whether it was visiting local museums, parks, and zoos or venturing to far-off destinations like Washington, D.C., Auckland, New Zealand, or the many ports of call during our cruise trips, I consistently prioritized creating cherished memories over accumulating wealth. Travel exposed my children to the vastness of the world beyond our own bubble, fostering a sense of empathy and kindness in them, which I consider even more valuable than academic achievement.
While physical books may appear antiquated to today’s tech-savvy generation, introducing them to the joys of reading at an early age is a timeless investment. Based on personal experience, I can guarantee that your children will relish the extra time and attention, leading their minds and spirits to soar.
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