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The Importance of Reading to Your Child

Many parents question the value of reading to an infant – after all, babies don’t understand what you are saying to them, never mind what you’re reading to them! But those who think this way really don’t understand the benefits that come from reading aloud to a child. No matter how old your kids are, reading to them for 20 minutes a day can make a big difference.

Reading aloud to your child has many benefits, starting with the bonding that occurs when your child sits on your lap or snuggles up to you with your arm around them. This is quality “together” time, one-on-one time, when the two of you can enjoy reading something of interest to your child and share some relaxing time together.

Experts recommend reading to your child from the age of six months. According to a report published in 2003, hearing the same words again and again helps your child learn them and reading is one of the best ways to learn.

Reading aloud helps you connect with your preschool-aged child in a way that encourages communication. When you read a story, you can ask your child questions about what might happen next and stimulate his or her curiosity. You can also use reading as the ideal learning environment to build vocabulary by explaining to your child what words mean.

Reading also encourages your child to ask questions – about the story, about the characters, about the world, about life! You’ll be amazed at what pops into your child’s head while you are reading or after you have just finished a story. Often they will relate something that has happened to them to the story and you find yourself learning something new about your child!

Reading also promotes the desire to read in your child – and isn’t that what you want? Read a variety of books (e.g., fairy tales, non-fiction, animal) and authors. You might even discover that your child leans toward a particular writer or type of story. And of course…there will always be that favorite story, the one you read over and over again because your child never tires of hearing it! These are the times that make memories…so read to your child and create some lasting ones!