Reading to children is one of the most important things we can do to foster a child’s development. During reading time, children bond with their parents or caregivers, which builds trust and security. It also can forge a lifelong love for reading.
Some other ways that children benefit from being read to are:
- increased attention span and focus
- vocabulary building and improved cognition
- greater tendency toward empathy, kindness, and other social emotional skills
- strengthening of critical thinking skills
- oral language development
- bolsters academic readiness
- encourages imagination
Five Tips For Reading With Your Child
- Reread books often
- Pause to talk about the pictures
- Make predictions and ask questions
- Start early. There is no such thing as too young when it comes to reading.
- Read with expression – use different voices for different characters, be enthusiastic, make this time with your child silly and fun 🙂
While ANY book is great, books that rhyme and books with predictable patterns (such as the Brown Bear Brown Bear books) help in memory retention and recognizing auditory patterns.
Whenever I am asked, what are the most important things a parent can do for their child, my answer is simple: Love them and read to them.