The Power of Busy Hands During a Read-Aloud

April 12, 2017 • 22 Comments

Think back to your days as a student in the classroom-listening to lectures, memorizing facts, and answering countless questions. I can vividly remember my high school biology class because we were required to color. Yes, coloring was required in high school. And you know what? I can still tell you that a plant cell contains a cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and a nucleus some 30 years later. Why?

Coloring requires attention to detail. Combine that attention to detail with a discussion about a topic or listening to a read-aloud and you have a double dose of learning goodness.

We can use this same idea with kids of all ages. My kids love to draw and color. We will often find coloring sheets to compliment a chapter book read-aloud we are currently using or a subject we are studying.

Some of my long-time favorite resources are the Dover Publications line of coloring and activity books.

Full Disclosure: This post has been graciously sponsored by Dover Publications.

Recently Dover Publications sent me some of their resource books related to the presidents, USA Geography and USA history. My 6-year-old has a great interest in the Revolutionary War and has been learning about George Washington.

So, as we were reading George the Drummer Boy, Sam the Minuteman, and The Boston Coffee Party, he was coloring a picture of George Washington in the American Presidents Coloring Book and building a standup Washington figure from the Standsup! Presidents.

Planning a trip to the nation’s capitol? While you read and talk about the trip pair it with Discovering Washington, D.C. Activity Book: Awesome Activities About Our Nation’s Capital. Or, build your own model of the White House with the White House Cut & Assemble.

You might think that building with your hands or coloring would take attention away from listening to a book, but for most kids it does not. It actually helps to focus on the read-aloud or discussion. In fact, I’ve found that children can listen to a story longer if they are doing these things.

Chances are if you are learning or reading about a certain topic, you will find a resource at Dover Publications to keep kids engaged and listening while keeping their hands busy. Check out the Dover Publications website to see all the books they offer. Plus, you can save 25% by using the code WHCH through May 31, 2017.

Our friends at Dover Publications want to give you the opportunity to experience their line of resources. They are offering one lucky Growing Book by Book reader a chance to win an American History Giveaway Pack. It includes the following titles.

U.S.A Constitution Activity Book, Alexander Hamilton Coloring Book, Discovering Washington, D.C. Activity Book: Awesome Activities About Our Nation’s Capital, American Presidents Coloring Book, Presidents Facts and Fun Activity Book, United States Coloring Book, History of the White House, Standups! Presidents: 8 Easy-To-Make Models!, and White House Cut & Assemble.

Enter the giveaway below.

Dover Publications

Keep those hands busy and watch your child’s attention to the read-aloud grow.

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About Jodie Rodriguez

Jodie Rodriguez is a mom of two young boys and an early childhood/elementary educator with over 20 years of experience. Jodie's passion is helping parents, teachers, librarians and anyone else interested in nurturing and reaching ALL of our youngest growing readers.

Bring joy and play into children's lives through books.

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