As parents we like watching our kids do activities. The preschool years are especially fun because our littles are just getting to the age to play a sport or take a class. They play soccer like a herd of cats and we love watching. T-ball is played and we watch them and then break out the snacks. If it’s a dance recital, we get there extra early to secure that right spot to observe our little darlings in action (not to mention we need to record it all to share on social media). We love to watch them, and that is the right thing to do. There comes a time, though, when we all realize that we are not just watching them…they are watching us, too.

Most of us parents know that reading to and with our children is important. Reading is one of my three year old daughter's favorite things to do together. It's the only time she will sit (still and quiet) with me for any length of time. When she and I read together, I experience what the research experts say are the benefits of reading with our littles:

So much of our lives and society is compartmentalized and segmented. It’s easy to think, “Worship happens at church; pastors are responsible for biblical teaching and discipleship. Learning about the world happens at school; teachers are responsible for disseminating knowledge. Experiencing relationships happens at home and with friends; parents are responsible for teaching their children about love, grace, and forgiveness.” While these assumptions and responsibilities are in part correct, they do not fully represent how Scripture prescribes our lives.