The Benefits of Reading to Your Children

The steadfast tradition of reading to children provides many benefits. Read on to find out more!

Babies and young children pick up so much from their environment, and reading aloud to them expands their world and their imagination. A child’s mind is active during story time, engaging with everything from the bright illustrations to the characters.

Perhaps what you imagine story time to look like does not match the reality. For instance, your toddler may begin to roam around the room, or your baby tries to eat the book. Even still, know that the benefits of reading to your children are the same.

On a basic level, story time with your child is a wonderful way to bond. Your little one will feel protected and at ease as you share the story with them. The simple act of looking through a book and gently flipping through the pages is a way to slow down the day. This also promotes a positive attitude toward literacy early on in your child’s life.

Further, your child’s listening skills and attention span will develop more as you consistently read to them. The skill of listening is one that reading experts know is necessary before children begin reading on their own. Regular story time builds the attention span; a child will begin to take note of how stories build up to an exciting conclusion. In time, your child may start guessing a book’s ending, further promoting their creativity and imagination.

Reading to babies and young children, of course, will amount to an expanded vocabulary. Simply, the words in the books you choose may not include words used in everyday vocabulary. Parents and caregivers seem to intuitively know the importance of story time for future cognitive development. Indeed, researchers agree. A recent study in the “Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics” shows notable data. Leading up to kindergarten, a child who is read five short books per day will hear 1.4 more million words than a child whose parents do not read to them. “Kids who hear more vocabulary words are going to be better prepared to see those words in print when they enter school. They are likely to pick up reading skills more quickly and easily, ” states Jessica Logan, the author of the study.

Follow our blog for upcoming features on how to encourage a love of reading to your children, with some go-to tips! Share in the comments below any benefits you have noticed from reading aloud to your child. We’d also love to help with any challenges you may have during story time!