Can one be reading too many books at once...too many ideas?

[secretgarden]

When I look at what I have planned this year for ds11 and dd8 I wonder if I will overload them with too much and they won't retain any of it. I am balancing that with the notion that we love to read and believe to lots of exposure to ideas is just real life and exciting.

Do you think it is too much to have
ds and dd read each day:
*a novel for "fun" (like E. nesbit)
*varied nonfiction on various subjects
*a Bible passage
*their science
*a read-aloud novel by me
*a history selection (either spine or part of a novel)
*sometimes an extra non read-aloud like math

Whew that seems like a lot?
What do you think?
Thanks

[Crissy]

I know this sort of answer isn't terribly helpful, but it really depends on your child.
My older son usually has as many as 10 books going at any one time.
My younger son, on the other hand, does best when he can go cover to cover in a single book before moving on to the next. He does read at a good pace, so I just stagger his literature, history and science reading.

Do give it a try and make little adjustments as you go. Your little people might just love the variety.

[VaKim]

Well, my youngest has 6 books going right now, and that doesn't include the 3 read alouds I am doing with her. She has no trouble at all, and much prefers it this way. She gets tired of any period of time with the same book, and likes to switch. I am the same way. She can always tell me what is going on in all the books.

[JFS in IL]

I'd look at the total reading time. If it is broken up into chunks in the day, not more than an hour at a time, I see no problem with 3 - 4 hours of reading.