Maile Hunt
The other day I was sitting with my husband in the cozy reading area next to the fireplace in our house. My sixteen-year-old daughter asked if she could read us an analytical essay she wrote for her English class. We couldn't say "yes" fast enough. You would've thought we were little kids with twenty dollars to spend in a candy shop!
As she began to read her essay out loud, I found myself smiling and thinking how much fun I was having listening to her. I felt like a kid back in school-excited and listening intently to the teacher. My daughter’s thoughts were remarkably deep for someone her age. Hearing her perspective helped me appreciate the author’s ambiguous ending-despite my usual preference for clear, resolved conclusions. When children are little we make it a point to read aloud with them. Taking the time to hear the words supports cognitive and emotional development, strengthens attention spans, enhances listening skills, sparks imagination, and deepens the parent-child bond. As we grow older and begin reading on our own, that once-dedicated read-aloud time slowly shifts into a tender memory no longer woven into our everyday lives. Reading alongside my daughter made me wonder: is story time really just for kids? Maybe it’s time we bring back that beloved circle-time but for adults.
Aside from the occasional work conference or a monthly book club meeting- where the literary discussion often takes a back seat to the wine- most of us rarely experience the simple pleasure of someone reading directly to us. How unfortunate! The enjoyment of reading out loud and sharing it with someone doesn't just stop when we get older.
One of the most important reasons for reading out loud is comprehension. According to Dolores Durkin, a prominent American educator, researcher, and former professor at the University of Illinois and Columbia University, a critical part of reading comprehension is to construct meaning or interpret what an author has said by using one’s abilities, knowledge, and experiences. Hearing a story gives the listener time to slow down and follow the arc of a plot or complex idea, often leading to a deeper or unique perspective. Instead of getting tangled up in words the way we sometimes do when reading silently, hearing the story frees us to focus on the images and scenes created in our mind. Reflecting on my daughter’s read-aloud session, I found myself engaging more in the visualization component. This allowed me to see the words being played out in a scene setting the stage for my own interpretation. I appreciated this process of creative imagination and the conversation it sparked between us, another important benefit of reading out loud.
In our family it has become a sentimental tradition on Christmas Eve to read the story "The Night Before Christmas" out loud. Every year a different family member reads it and it's something I always look forward to. It’s a time when we all come together, no distractions or worries about the day. Listening to the story and looking at the colorful images always gives me that Calgon-take-me-away feeling where I’m relaxed, comforted, and calm. As adults, we still enjoy hearing a good story, yet busy schedules often relegate it to children’s bedtime routines or the occasional planned moment. Maybe if we understood the importance of reading aloud, adults and children alike would be more inclined to make space for it on a regular basis.
Have you ever met a person and had an instant connection with them -everything in the conversation just flows. It feels easy, natural, comfortable, in rhythm. Reading out loud has the power to strike those same chords. But how? Part of “clicking” with someone is allowing yourself to be vulnerable -open to judgement, rejection, acceptance. Reading out loud is similar as it exposes your voice, inflection, and potential of making mistakes. This shared vulnerability fosters trust and bonding, and the feeling of being on the same wavelength.
Reading a story is an active process that engages both parties. The reader must focus on communicating the story while the listener must focus on paying attention often requiring them to slow down. Sharing a story becomes the channel to create a sense of togetherness and invites both people into a common emotional space that’s hard to access in the noise of everyday life. In a world that constantly pushes us to move at lightning speed, the art of slowing down has become essential for protecting our mental health and well-being. Reading out loud is one of the simplest ways to do that. It’s easy, inexpensive, and enjoyable. Sharing a story invites us to be present, connect, and shift the pace of our day in the gentlest way.
Every March, our nation celebrates National Reading Month – a time where families, schools, and communities are encouraged to celebrate the love of reading. It is an activity that is not only important for kids but adults too. As humans our need for social connection is paramount and communication is the fundamental pathway to building and strengthening relationships. So, next time you’re with your family, friends, or co-workers take a moment to circle up and read out loud. You might be surprised by what you discover about yourself or others around you – living proof that we never outgrow story time.
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