The Read Aloud thread got me thinking....

[Nursingnaturalmom]

What does read Aloud time look like at your house? Is it bedtime and everyone is on the (a) bed and snuggled in? Piled on the couch? Do you read during meals or school work?

We currently read everywhere. In the doctors office, dentist lol
At night on the (a) bed. I try during lunch and struggle with couch piles because everyone wants ON me. Esp. the toddler in the house.

Chandi

[chrissy]

We read right after lunch, just before our quiet time. We all get into my bed. The little 2 each get to pick a book. Laney is 1 and she likes to look at her book by herself. Also, she nurses and climbs all over me. Rowan is 3.5 and I read a book that he chooses. If he can be still and quiet, he can stay in the bed while I read to the bigger guys. It works out pretty well- usually. It is probably my favorite part of the day.

[LianneM]

We read several times through the day, anywhere we are - couch, floor, bed, wherever.

[CCJWGM]

We read everywhere too!

I read when ever someone hands me a book (more often a pile of books!) which is many times throughout the day. Reading happens anywhere but in daytime it often is in a huge pile on the couch and at nighttime it's snuggled in a bed.

We don't read during meals though. I'm so anal I would freak about food getting on the books.

[nathansmum]

Everywhere too!

At a minimum it's part of the bedtime ritual - all piled on our bed with a variety of books.

Then, depending on the season or what else we've got on, we'll read chapter books during the day on the couch, or outside on the picnic mat, or even in the car waiting between appts or classes etc.

If we're really into a chapter book (atm we're making our way through a large pile of Magic Treehouse books again) and the kids are still eating their dinner and it's getting late, I'll start to read while they continue eating.

[kgianforti]

We also read all over the place, several times a day. I do read at meal times (but not always). We have "snack/story" on the living room floor on the "story mat". I read my big girl's chapter books while she is in bed. I read other picture books on the floor with a girl or two on my lap.

[AAK]

Another vote for everywhere!

During the day it is usually on the couch, but I have been known to read aloud during the girls' lunch. Also, we almost always read aloud before bed. We are in the younger bedroom, me on bean bag. Sometimes they are in bed, sometimes piled around me. My oldest was shunning "read aloud" time for a while but not lately. To quote her, "I don't know what it is mom, but there is something really soothing about listening to you read." It made me feel so good!

Amy

[MPsSweetie]

Our big reading time is the hour or so before bed. Lately I have been lying on the couch and reading, its hard to get comfy with this belly. Ds picks out 5-6 of *his* books (picture books, berenstein bears, etc.) then we move on to the Little House series, we are almost done with them. We LOVE them. Even dh enjoys reading time.

If I am alone anytime with the kids we usually read, I am really not into playing, but I can read! And I am trying to start a daily bible story time, maybe after breakfast.

I read my own books ALL the time, dd reads in her room ALL the time, and ds has started looking at his books a lot on his own also.

[4evermom]

Bedtime for 1-2 hours. Once in a while, we'll head up to the bedroom for a midafternoon session.

[orangefoot]

We read anywhere at any time but I really can't read at bedtime.

[Greenmama2]

Anywhere, anytime sometimes all day here. Sometimes I pine for a formal "read aloud" session so I might be able to do something else. I grow little bibliophiles apparently (not that I really mind).

[kittie313]

dh reads to the girls EVERY night at bedtime, and anytime they ask on weekends or his vacations from work. I try to read to them also at least twice a day, but where we read at is totally different every time. The last couple weeks I've been reading with us all curled up in my bed because sitting up too long wears me out, but I also read on the sofa, in their room, on the living room floor, at the table while they eat, or even out back while they are on the swingset or digging in their dig spot. I even take books with us to the ped or other appointments, and will often read to them in the waiting room (and all the other kids will find their way over and sit with my crew on the floor until I have 15+ kids sitting there listening quietly). We LOVE reading so we try to do it whenever possible..

The only place I can't read at is in the van. I get carsick every time I try, and there is NOTHING classy about a minivan pulled over with mom leaning out the door getting sick in the grass.......... lol

[MrsJewelsRae]

Our usual haunts are a blanket under the shade tree out front in nice weather, near the window air conditioner in the heat, or in front of the fireplace in chilly weather. So loving the right now cause it means sprawling out in front of the fireplace with hot cocoa and a great book!

[jrabbit]

reading aloud at night is really hard for me because I yawn every sentence - it is tooooo soothing. I like to read to the girls, and they like listening, but we tend to get out of the habit and do crafts instead ... I also *hate* reading with squirmy kids climbing on me and shaking the couch, so that tends to make reading-aloud not so enjoyable.

[bass chick]

It's a bedtime routine for us. DH reads a couple of books and then I read them a couple of books. Our bedtime routine is about 2.5 hours. We also talk quite a bit after the lights have gone out. I have to make sure I'm ready for bed because more often then not I fall asleep before my oldest (6.5) son. ha!
I try to read during the day at least once to them on the couch, but when I do I get very very sleepy.