Four Benefits of Reading to Children
1. Bonding
Reading provides a wonderful opportunity for you and your child to connect. It’s a nice way to spend time together and slow down during an otherwise hectic day.Research from 2008 pointed out how reading can support a solid parent-child relationship. Children feel secure when they’re read to. Plus, caregivers who have a positive attitude toward books and reading in turn help their children view literacy in a positive way.
2. 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. They suggest that 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.
3. Cognitive and language development
Even the youngest children benefit from hearing their caregivers read to them. A 2013 study showed that babies who are read to and talked to score higher in language skills and cognitive development, like problem solving. Research from 2018 suggests that this link extends throughout childhood into the teen years. In fact, researchers say that verbal interactions (reading, talking, etc.) between parents and young kids may promote higher language and IQ scores all the way up to age 14.
4. Expanded vocabulary
Experts from the National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching and Learning also explain that reading books to children helps expand the number and variety of words they use. Think about it: The books you read often contain words you might not otherwise use in your everyday communications. While reading a book, you might end up using more specific names for different plants or animals or use more adjectives descriptive words altogether. And this adds up.
A few good books to read to our children are: HBCU Proud, I am Amazing, I Love My Hair, , and My Doctor Looks Like Me.
Source: Health Line