Many parents of middle schoolers can hardly remember. After all, your child can read himself now. Why should you read to him?

Plenty of reasons. For one, many young middle schoolers are still better at listening than they are at reading. If you’re reading aloud, they can stop you and ask you to explain a concept or part of the plot in the book.

They can ask questions about grammar and punctuation. And they have the benefit of listening to you pronounce words they may not be familiar with. They are less likely to struggle over those words when they encounter them independently.

Finally, and perhaps most important of all, reading aloud is still one of the best ways to spend one-on-one time with your child. Some other activities that can go with reading aloud:

• Try a type of book that neither of you is familiar with. Consider science fiction, historical fiction or a biography.

• Look at the newspaper each day. Choose one article to read aloud to your child at breakfast. Have him do the same for you after dinner.

• Go to the library together like you used to. Pledge to read one book of your child’s choice. Have him read one book of your choice.

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