Reading with or to your child has many benefits. Even if your child is too young to speak, they can still benefit greatly from parent-child reading time. Reading with your child can help expand their vocabulary, cultivate a lifelong interest in learning, and promote a love of reading.
Babies and young children are sponges that soak in practically everything in their environments. It’s true! Even during story time, their minds are at work, taking in all the language they hear and lessons the characters learn.
Reading to your child — at any age — will boost their brain development, your bond, and so much more. And all it takes is a few books, motivation, and a little time.
Improves Vocabulary And Language Skills
Reading with your child can help expand their vocabulary and language skills. Even regularly reading to your child before they are able to speak can increase their vocabulary once they begin speaking.
Creativity
Books and stories open up a whole new world to your child. Yes, there are plenty of nonfiction books on dinosaurs, bugs, and airplanes. Fiction stories, though, go beyond the real world and employ fantasy elements that get kids thinking outside the box.
Listening skills
Hearing a story read aloud involves some level of comprehension on your child’s part. And comprehension is dependent on paying attention — in other words, listening skills. Books on tape are a great addition to reading one-on-one with your child. These often provide entertainment value, too, like silly voices, music, and other embellishments.
Helps With Parent-Child Bonding
Taking the time to read with your child everyday can be an enjoyable experience for both the child and parent. Reading together on a regular basis helps to promote parent-child bonding and lead to a lasting parent-child relationship.
Promotes A Lifelong Love Of Reading
When parents engage in reading with their children when they are young, the children are more likely to continue to read as they grow older. This can lead to a lifetime love of reading for children which has other positive effects such as confidence in reading in front of groups, better grades in school, and better communication skills.
Cultivates An Interest In Learning
Reading is both an enjoyable and educational experience especially when parents are engaging with the child. Children who have a good experience learning when they are younger will be more likely to take an interest in learning as they grow.
Expands Attention Spans
Reading requires children to pay attention and concentrate, which is a skill that will benefit them in other areas of their life. As the children get a bit older their books get a little longer, and they are required to expand their attention span little by little. When this skill is carried over to school, children are able to focus longer and retain more information.
Teaches Your Child About The World Around Them
Each book you read to your child has characters that play certain parts and story lines. The stories allow your child to learn how the world around them functions. For example, if the book tells a story about a child, a friend, and a teacher, the child will learn what roles these others play in their life and in society in general.