06Jan
What’s What Wednesday: Five Reasons We Should Read With Our Children
Five Reasons We Should Read with Our Children
We have all heard that reading with our children is important, but have you ever wondered why?
Several research studies have demonstrated that reading aloud WITH young children promotes the development of language and other emergent literacy skills. The conversations and emotional interactions that adults and children have during book reading are fundamental in engaging children with books and promoting these skills.
Sunshine State Counseling Center, has listed five important reasons why parents and/or caregivers should read with their children:
- Mastery of Language: During shared book reading, children learn to recognize letters, to recognize print as a representation of the spoken world, and to manipulate the sounds of spoken language. These skills will facilitate the process of learning when the child reaches school age.
- Better Communication Skills: Children who participate in shared book reading, will be more likely to communicate and express themselves in a healthy way. The interactions between the characters of the book, and the contact and discussions the parents/caregivers have with the children, model assertive and healthy communication skills.
- Enhanced Concentration and Discipline: During shared book reading, children learn to focus on one task, which enhances their attention spam. Reading also supports the child’s memory retention, reading comprehension and self-discipline.
- Easier Adaptation to New Experiences: Sharing our experiences with others help ease life transitions. When our children approach developmental milestones and stressful experiences, telling stories of these experiences help them understand the experience, name their feelings and transition easily. Children learn these skills in part from the stories they read in books and the discussions they have with their caregivers while reading.
- Stronger relationships with parents/caregivers: Shared book reading, allows for the caregiver and the child to slow down and recapture cuddly time that used to be enjoyed when the child was younger. Reading will become a nurturing activity that will bring the child and caregiver closer together.