Literacy and a vast vocabulary are very important attributes for your kids to have as they grow into productive members of society. The question is, how can you promote both without seeming like the parent that forces your children to memorize the dictionary? In this episode, Dr. Meg talks with Sarah MacKenzie, author of the book The Read Aloud Family. Sarah helps families all over the world make meaningful and lasting connections with their kids through books, and she talks with Dr. Meg about the benefits of reading with your kids of all ages. Also in this episode, Dr. Meg gives you her points to ponder to begin using right away and answers two questions from moms about a single mom handling questions about her daughter’s dad and another about a homeschooling mom going back to work more. Do you have a question for Dr. Meg? If so, email them to [email protected] she could answer your question in an upcoming episode! 0:00 – AD – KIWI CO KiwiCo creates super cool, hands-on projects for kids that make learning about science, technology, engineering, art, and math fun! KiwiCo’s mission is to provide the next generation of innovators with the tools and foundation they need to become creative problem-solvers and critical thinkers. KiwiCo is offering Parenting Great Kids listeners the opportunity to try them for free. Visit kiwico.com/megto find out more about their projects for kids! 1:39 – WELCOME Dr. Meg introduces the topic “Reading Aloud to Your Kids”. She also teases her conversation with Sarah MacKenzie and her points to ponder. 2:55 – PARENTING RESOURCES Dr. Meg is also reminding parents about her webinar on discipline available at MegMeekerMD.com! Dr. Meeker’s latest course, Discipline With Courage & Kindness, is designed to help guide you on your journey to being the parent you've always wanted to be — the parent your kids need. Just visit her homepage and click on the parenting course for more information! 3:41 – POINTS TO PONDER Dr. Meg gives you three points to ponder as you learn more about reading aloud to your kids! 7:59 – A CONVERSATION WITH SARAH MACKENZIE (PART 1) Dr. Meg sits down with Sarah MacKenzie, author of the book The Read Aloud Family. Sarah helps families all over the world make meaningful and lasting connections with their kids through books, and she talks with Dr. Meg about the benefits of reading with your kids of all ages. 25:33 – AD – SUNBASKET As a busy parent it’s hard to find time and energy to be sure you’re eating well and eating right. No matter how much experience you have in the kitchen, Sun Basket makes it easy to make healthy and delicious meals for your family! Go to the Sun Basket app and pick from 18 weekly recipes like Fully Loaded Beef Tacos with Mexican Simmer Sauce. No matter what your eating plan is, Sun Basket has a menu that’s right for you! All ingredients are sourced from the best farms and suppliers to ensure that your produce is fresh and organic, and your meats and seafood are responsibly-raised. Go to SunBasket.com/megtoday to learn more and get $35 off your first order! 27:31 – AD – THIRD LOVE Armed with the measurements of millions of women, ThirdLove bras are designed to fit real women. With their Fit Finder quiz, ThirdLove helps you identify your breast shape and find styles that fit your body in less than a minute! ThirdLove values comfort and quality with straps that don’t slip, ultra-soft smoothing fabrics, and lightweight memory foam. Go to thirdlove.com/megnow to find your perfect fitting bra and receive 15% off your first purchase! 29:07 – A CONVERSATION WITH SARAH MACKENZIE (PART 2) Dr. Meg sits down with Sarah MacKenzie, author of the book The Read Aloud Family. Sarah helps families all over the world make meaningful and lasting connections with their kids through books, and she talks with Dr. Meg about the benefits of reading with your kids of all ages. 47:02 – LET’S GET SOCIAL Email Dr. Meg at [email protected] tweet your question to her @MegMeekerMD. In this segment, Dr. Meg answers two questions from her listeners. The first question comes from Kate and she asks about how she and her sister should talk to her niece about her niece’s absentee father. The second question comes from Heidi, and she is asking about how her five kids will react to her part-time work taking up a little more time and discontinuing her homeschooling with the kids. 55:53 – PARENT PEP RALLY 56:26 – FROM THE PRODUCER Thanks for listening to Episode 56, Reading Aloud to Your Kids and for helping Dr. Meg’s parenting revolution reach more than ONE MILLION downloads! Subscribe, rate, and leave a review for us on iTunes! Get Social with Dr. Meg on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @MegMeekerMD Have a parenting question? Write Dr. Meg at [email protected] she could answer your question during the show or you can let us know what you’d like to hear about in a future episode! Dr. Meg’s parenting resources and tools are available at www.megmeekermd.comand click on “Parenting Resources”. Subscribe, rate, and leave a review for us on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices