The former first lady, Michelle Obama, will conduct fun of reading with kids through online platforms.
Mondays with Michelle
The video series, Mondays with Michelle, will be aired from April 20 to May 11 at noon ET (5 pm BST).
The books which Obama will be reading are the following:
- The Gruffalo - April 20
- There's a Dragon in your Book - April 27
- Miss Maple's Seeds - May 4
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar - May 11.
The fun of reading
Obama, on her Instagram account, shared how excited she is about the video series. She says that this opportunity is something she is thrilled to do because it will not only help kids practice their reading but will also help families have a break.
The former first lady has been reading books to children even during her husband's term as president. She shares that reading aloud is her favorite thing to do even as a kid and as a mom to their kids. And now that she feels families are in so much stress, Mondays with Michelle is her way of also extending help to households.
If you missed the fun
If parents and kids miss these live storytelling sessions, they will remain available on Facebook and YouTube for everyone to view during their free time.
Aside from the videos from Obama, PBS kids also have activities and tips for each book that will be read. These activities will be available at readtogetherbetogether.com. There will also be literary resources for parents at pbskidsforparent.org.
Benefits of storytelling
Storytelling is an activity that actively encourages children to speak and listen. It helps in child development. And some of these aspects are the following:
Communication
That is why this activity develops the curiosity and communication skills of children.
Whenever a child hears something new to them, they do not hesitate to ask questions and talk about their feelings as well. At the same time, storytelling can broaden a child's vocabulary.
Focus
Because storytelling takes time, it also enhances the focus of children. When a child is in a storytelling session, he or she is focused on what the storyteller is saying. A child learns to concentrate when listening carefully to a storyteller to avoid missing any portion of the plot.
Imagination
Through storytelling, children are brought to different worlds. It opens their imagination and helps them become creative. Also, even if children do not know it, they get to learn life lessons through the stories that they hear or read.
PBS Kids has been conducting Read-Alongs to encourage family engagement through reading. They have been partnering with several organizations to share the importance of reading even during these trying times. Some of these organizations are Penguin Young Readers, Random House Children's Books and Read Together, Be Together.
