The benefits of reading to your child
The National Literacy Trust says that “Regularly reading to a child for the love of it provides a connection between parent and child from the very early days and helps build strong family ties… Families who enjoy reading together have more opportunities for discussion, developing empathy and attachment.”
My mum read to me every bed time. I remember the stories nearly 40 years later and it’s one of my best memories of times with her now she has passed.
Reading to your children or grandchildren has so many other benefits as well. All4kids identified them as:
- Supported cognitive development
- Improved language skills
- Preparation for academic achievement
- Increased concentration and discipline
- Improved imagination and creativity
Young children develop millions of neurological connections every day. Reading to your children helps provide the context for children to start to understand the world around them. A scientific study shows that reading to young children activates the part of the brain that helps us understand language and creating visual imagery.
The Child Mind Institute says that “that young children whose parents read to them daily have been exposed to at least 290,000 more words by the time they enter kindergarten than kids who aren’t read to regularly.” That’s a lot of words giving your child an excellent educational foundation.
They also reflect that reading helps children develop empathy and understanding of others. Listening to and talking with caregivers is excellent for children but reading also provides children with different language styles, points of view and experiences.
“The earlier parents can start, the better as it allows the maximum time for their child to grow up with reading and for the love to take root, grow and become part of their life. And what an enriched life that will be.” are wise words from the National Literacy Trust.
https://literacytrust.org.uk/blog/reading-children-so-powerful-so-simple-and-yet-so-misunderstood/
https://www.all4kids.org/news/blog/the-importance-of-reading-to-your-children/
https://time.com/3836428/reading-to-children-brain/
https://childmind.org/article/why-is-it-important-to-read-to-your-child/