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Reading out loud to our children is one of the most important things we can do as parents. In our home, we make reading not only a priority, but part of our every day lives. I hope my girls will develop the same love and passion as I have for reading.
In my post about the Importance of Math in Young Children, I researched how incorporating basic math into our day to day lives would greatly impact my children as they got older. In this post, I wanted to share all of the research I have found about the importance of reading to children starting as early as birth.
In the AAP article, Parent Child Reading and Story Time Promote Brain Development Prior to Kindergarten, talks about the positive affect reading to your child has on their brain development as well as the parent-child relationship. “Behavioral evidence has shown that children who are read to, especially before school entry, experience stronger parent-child relationships and learn valuable language and literacy skills.”
We have books in practically every area of our home and car. I have set up a really cozy reading nook in my oldest daughter’s bedroom, one in our play area, and a few books in the bathroom for potty time. I also have several books in our car so they can read while we drive rather than use technology to keep them busy. These mini books
Since my children are really close in age, I had to come up with a way to keep my oldest busy while I nursed and put the baby down for a nap. I always put a stack of books in my oldest crib and treated it like a pack and play so she wouldn’t constantly be running back and fourth between the rooms and disturb the baby while I was trying to get her to sleep. She loves flipping the pages and looking at the pictures. Now I find her going through books on her own just for fun. It was another great way to keep her entertained without putting her in front of the TV.
Every night we read Time for Bed
“The development of children’s early language skills is critically important for their future academic success.” REILDS
Our local library also has a program called 1000 Books before Kindergarten. This is a great program geared towards kids from birth to pre-k and is designed to get them excited about reading. The parent keeps track of the amount of books (can be the same ones over and over since repeating books helps kids learn to read) a child reads until they hit 1000. There are several checkpoints you tell the librarian about, such as 50 books, 100 books, etc. They will receive stickers and prizes, including free books, a lunch box, a bag, and a t-shirt. Parents can keep track of their child’s progress on the 1000 Books before Kindergarten app or on a piece of paper. Not every library participates in this program, but I am sure if you bring it up to your local librarian it is definitely something they can look in to.
“Studies have also shown that children who were read to as newborns have a larger vocabulary, as well as more advanced mathematical skills, than other kids their age. There’s also a direct link between how many words a baby hears each day and her language skills. One study found that babies whose parents spoke to them a lot scored higher on standard tests when they reached age 3 than children whose parents weren’t as verbal.” Parents
Why is reading so Important?
- helps language development
- enhances vocabulary
- stronger parent-child bond
- prepares kids for school
- boosts brain activity
Reading Tips:
- point to pictures as you read to help children associate the story with the images
- as the child gets older ask them to point to specific objects
- talk about the pictures in the story and ask your child what is happening
- underline words as you read to help child understand the sounds associated with each letter
Resources:
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Below are some of our favorite books that we read often. If you are not in the position to purchase a ton of books, there are other ways of adding to your home library without breaking the bank, for example :: books sales at the library or schools, consignment stores, hand-me-downs, gifts, etc.
Books:
Reading to my children is one of the highlights of the day. They grow and change so quickly and I am trying to soak up every single moment. A few minutes of our day can make a world of difference to a child. Happy Reading Everyone!
