Benefits Of Reading Aloud To children
Experiencing the benefits of reading to your child everynight is one of the most enjoyable ways to share time together. It also has innumerable benefits for both you and your child. Reading to your child provides an opportunity for them to make connections between what they read and real life, as well as practice their reading skills with a trusted adult that cares about their progress. You might think it’s common knowledge that kids need lots of reading time—but not all parents are on board with this idea. The truth is that reading with children has so many benefits that it’s almost unbelievable. This article will introduce you to seven reasons why you should read more often with your child, along with insight from kids themselves on how this impacts them positively in other areas of life as well.
The Reading Together Benefit: Vocabulary Development
The first benefit of reading to your child is that it helps them develop a larger vocabulary. This can be especially important when kids are first learning how to read, as they may have limited exposure to words they see in print. Children who are read to on a regular basis are more likely to know many of the words they encounter in books, and also use them in their own speech. While you may be an expert reader, your child doesn’t have your experience. When you read to your child, you’re able to help them make sense of more advanced vocabulary words that they may not understand on their own. This is especially important for kids who are just learning how to read. They may be able to decode words, but may not know what they mean. When you read together, you can help them get a better understanding of these words by providing additional meaning and context.
The Reading Together Benefit: Synaptic Growth
Reading to your child can also impact the development of their brains in a positive way. Developing brains have high levels of synaptic activity, which means they are forming new neural pathways. When children are first learning how to read, they are creating neural pathways in their brains that will last a lifetime. When you read with your child, you’re actually helping to stimulate the development of these pathways. The more often you read with your child, the more these pathways will grow. You may have heard the term “use it or lose it,” which applies to this situation. If you aren’t reading with your child, those neural pathways will begin to deteriorate and be lost. But if you read with your child, you’re stimulating synaptic growth and increasing the chance that these pathways will be strong.
The Reading Together Benefit: Confidence and Self-Esteem Boost
The facts about reading to your child are evident and so easy to see, reading to your child can also help them develop a strong sense of self-esteem and confidence. This can happen in a variety of ways. First, reading to your child and focusing on their progress and achievement can help boost their self-esteem. Kids can feel proud of themselves when they make progress in reading. They may also feel proud when they’re able to read words that they previously struggled with. Reading to your child can also help boost their confidence in other areas. When kids see that they’re capable of reading and understanding new books, they may feel more confident about other areas of life, such as academics. Reading with your child can also help them relate to characters in books in more ways than one. If your child is struggling with a certain situation or problem, reading about a similar character can help them feel less alone in the world.
The Reading Together Benefit: Build a Strong Bond Between Parent and Child
Reading to your child can help create a strong bond between parent and child. This can occur in a variety of ways. First, by reading with your child, you’re spending time with them and actively engaging with them. This can help strengthen your bond with your child, especially as they grow older. You may notice that when you spend time with your child, they may have a tendency to shut you out and zone out. But when you read with them, they are actively listening to you and focusing on the story together. Reading with your child can also help you empathize with them in a more meaningful way. When you read books with them, you can help them understand characters and situations in a way that may be more personal and relevant to their lives. This can help you empathize with your child in a different way than you might otherwise.
The Reading Together Benefit: Helping Children Develop Their Writing Skills
Reading with your child can also help them develop their writing skills. This can occur in a few different ways. First, reading with your child can help them become more interested in writing. Kids who read regularly are more likely to want to write when they grow up. This may be inspired by characters in books, or it may be a desire to share their own stories with the world. Reading with your child can help them develop a love for writing that will stay with them for their entire life.
The Reading Together Benefit: Improves Attention and Focus
Finally, reading with your child can help them improve their attention span and ability to focus. This can occur in a variety of ways. First, reading together can help kids become more engaged with what they’re reading. Kids who are engaged in what they’re reading are more likely to pay attention to what they’re reading. Reading with your child can help them become more engaged in the story and increase their attention span.
Final Words - The Benefits of Reading To Your Child Everyday
The benefits of reading to your child are numerous. Reading with your child can help them develop a larger vocabulary, build their confidence and self-esteem, and develop their writing skills in addition to other benefits. Reading with your child is a great way to enrich their lives and build stronger bonds between parent and child.