Helps With Bonding
A wonderful way to bond with your child is by reading to them or with them for about 20 minutes a day.
In a recent study about reading to children, over 80% of both kids and parents saw read-aloud time as a positive experience.
Putting time aside every day to read with your child can help them feel secure and safe. It also helps them view reading as a positive thing, which can benefit them in the future.
When you make time to read with your children, you have the opportunity to learn about their interests and for them to learn about yours. This helps strengthen your relationship and provides insight into their thoughts.
Assists With Language Development
Reading helps children develop language skills from a young age. Between the ages of 6 and 12 months is a critical time for an infant’s brain development, so it’s important to start early.
Reading out loud to your child helps them absorb a larger vocabulary, which will be useful as they grow. They pick up on grammar, pronunciation, definitions and more.
One 2019 study estimated that children who are read to in the 5 years leading up to kindergarten are exposed to 1.4 million more words than children who are not.
Children can also pick up on more complex things found in fiction, like subtext, foreshadowing, metaphors, and other literary devices. Learning this from a young age will only make them stronger readers and writers in the future.
Increases Attention Span
Reading to children for just 20 minutes a day helps them develop concentration skills. Having a daily routine with set goals and a time limit gets them comfortable with practicing self-discipline.
It might be difficult at first to have your child sit for an extended period of time, but eventually, they’ll start listening and engage with the story.
It helps if you make sure that the book you’re reading is of interest to your child. With more practice, your child will be able to expand this skill to other elements of their life.
Supports Social Development
Reading to your little ones can help them cope with stressful experiences. When they see characters or read about certain emotions, it can help them identify and understand their own feelings.
Reading has been shown to increase empathy as some stories can focus on potentially emotional situations. Children can practice putting themselves in other people’s shoes and imagine what it must be like to experience certain events or situations.
Children can see how different characters deal with conflict, sadness, anger, or loneliness and learn how to deal with these emotions themselves. On the flip side, it can also help them understand why reacting to situations in unhelpful ways (such as outbursts of anger, name-calling, etc.) might hurt people’s feelings.
In a survey of kids from ages 6 - 17, 90% of them said that finishing a book made them feel accomplished and inspired.
Encourages Creativity
One of the most fun parts of reading is that it can expand creativity. Fiction can explore things that are new to your child, which asks them to use their imagination. This can include fantasy worlds, strange characters, and colourful creations.
Reading to your kids can help them think outside the box by exploring new ideas. It challenges them to blend their critical thinking skills with their imagination.
Children already have large imaginations, so reading helps them keep this useful tool sharp. Encouraging creativity is a huge element of play, which is incredibly important when it comes to children’s well-being and emotional health. 76% of readers say that reading has inspired them to believe in themselves.
Conclusion
Plan Your Story Time Today!
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