Reading to your child can create many opportunities June 5, 2021 – Posted in: Blog
I have explained on here a couple of times now that reading to your child creates imagination, stimulation and creativity. Babies and young children are like sponges and they soak up everything you do say or read. Reading out loud with your child can help hem learn to read, improve your bond and stimulate their brain. All it takes is a little time, a few books and motivation.
When I had young children, I often had a story time with them before bed. It is one of my greatest memories of not only sharing, bonding and teaching but just the chance to share together. I carried this on to my time as a grandfather and even now my grandchildren remember some of the stories, we shared many years ago. I especially love the illustration above as it not only bedtime but has a magical feel to it.
Hearing a story read out loud also improves a number of skills you want your child to have. Comprehension being one. Comprehension is dependent on paying attention — in other words, listening skills. The experts at Scholastic explain that listening is a skill kids must acquire before they can read themselves. Don’t be afraid of looking silly, make funny voices even act out some of the scenes, share the laughter.
Ask questions like “What do you think he saw?” or “How would you feel if you were her?” Simple questions like “What colour is her dress?” “Can you find the red car?” all these can improve your child’s comprehension and understanding but also teaches them lessons and many other small but sometimes imperceptible skills that can show up later. Research 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.
Books provide an opportunity to talk about real-world situations in age-appropriate ways. Kids especially enjoy books that feature children their own ages doing things they do in everyday life.
Along with modeling what happens in various situations, reading books on targeted subjects may help children not feel alone when they deal with something new, like moving across the country, or something potentially uncomfortable, like going to the dentist or hospital.
Niki and I started writing children’s books to assist parents and children to ease into every day concerns that surround us. Our books aim to make going to hospital, dealing with change, facing bullies and even just keeping clean a story in itself. Our newest project will be dealing with a serious problem across our world that effects not only children but adults as well. Keep your eye on our site to see the newest release soon.
