One more page: The power of the read-aloud

The Catholic Spirit describes how reading aloud serves as a ritual to slow down time and reduce stress for both children and the elderly.

The author notes that the practice provides a sense of calm during busy schedules. For children, reading stories like Roald Dahl’s The Twits by flashlight helps them settle into sleep. For older individuals, such as a 90-year-old woman listening to Ann Patchett’s Whistler, the experience offers comfort. The author uses the evening read-aloud with their own children as a way to end the day and enter a shared story.