Start Them Young: The Incredible Benefits of Reading to Children

Reading is said to be the most marvelous adventure anyone can have. It opens doors to new worlds, provides entertainment, boosts the imagination, and has positive neurological and psychological benefits.

Dr. Seuss famously said, “The more that you read, the more you will know; the more that you learn, the more places you will go.” 

If reading is all it is boasted to be, it follows that one of the most valuable things parents can do for their children is introduce them to the world of books. Here are some incredible benefits for children.

Reading Enhances boost brain development

Did you know that in the first few years of a baby, more than a million new neural connections are formed every second? Every second! That’s how fast a baby’s brain grows and develops its architecture. 

Recognizing this, pediatricians urge parents to read to their kids every day. In the U.S., for example, the American Pediatrician Academy issued a policy for its 62,000 member pediatricians to become powerful advocates for reading aloud every time a baby visits a doctor.

Even though babies may spit up, cry, or babble in response, their brains absorb every word.

Photo Caption: Book Picks for Boosting Brain Development: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Reading enhances vocabulary and fosters language development

Researchers estimate that babies reading aloud daily are exposed to around 78,000 words annually. This means they would have accumulated approximately 1.4 million more words by reaching kindergarten than children who are never read to (from a 2019 study in the Journal of Development & Behavioral Pediatrics). 

Therefore, reading to a child helps their blossoming language skills bloom. What’s more, with reading books, children are introduced to the language of books, which differs from the one used in everyday conversation. Books use grammatical and storytelling structures, which can help kids improve their reading and writing fluency. 

Reading helps with school success

Every parent wants the best for their child, including excelling in school. Note that this doesn’t necessarily mean getting straight As but encouraging your child to have a natural love for learning.

How do books help? Megal Daley, teacher, librarian, and author of the book Raising Readers: How to Nurture a Child’sChild’s Love For Books, explains: “As a parent and educator, I know how beneficial it is for children to enter the education system bubbling with excitement about words, images, and ideas. Flash cards or early online reading programs won’t instill this joy in your little one, but gorgeous books will.”

Children who are brought up in that reading, storytime, and play environment develop that love and natural thirst for knowledge. They know plenty to learn, and the books serve as gateways to that knowledge. Daley concludes, “Immersing your child in the language of all forms – stories and songs and nursery rhymes is one of the best ways you can give them a headstart and help them to reach their academic potential.”

Reading teaches children empathy

Whether fiction or non-fiction, books are powerful tools in helping a child imagine what it’s like to be in another person’s shoes. Books make it possible to explore the inner lives of people across different backgrounds or delve into other people’s perspectives in life.

There is no doubt about it: books teach children empathy, and empathy, according to this article in The Guardian, ” is increasingly being recognized as a core life skill, and the bedrock for sound relationships and classroom climate.”

Books can also help children healthily handle their feelings. Through reading and discussion with a parent or caregiver, a child learns that sadness, anger, or frustration are normal and teaches them the value of opening up and processing feelings. 

Reading Prepares Kids to Read on Their Own

Once they find reading fun and rewarding, the rest, as they say, is history. Instilling a love of reading at an early age unlocks that door to a lifelong passion and love for books. And as we all know, books are one of life’s most beautiful yet simple joys. 

Ready to start reading with your little ones? Browse children’s titles at Fully Booked and enjoy free shipping for a minimum of P799 purchase. 

References: Daley, Megal. (2019). Raising Readers: How to Nurture a Child’s Love for Books. University of Queensland Press, Harvard University. n.d.  InBrief: The Science of Early Childhood Development. https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/inbrief-science-of-ecd/, McKearney M. & Mears, S. (2015 May 13). Lost for words? How Reading Can Teach Empathy. The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/may/13/reading-teach-children-empathy, Rich, M. (2014 Jun 24). Pediatrics Group to Recommend Reading Aloud to Kids from Birth. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/us/pediatrics-group-to-recommend-reading-aloud-to-children-from-birth.html, Logan, J., etal. (2019). When Children Are Not Read to at Home. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 40 (5). https://journals.lww.com/jrnldbp/abstract/2019/06000/when_children_are_not_read_to_at_home__the_million.9.aspx

About Fully Booked

Established in 2003, Fully Booked opened its first branch in Rockwell and has grown to 30 branches nationwide since then. Known for its comprehensive selection of books under every interest, the Philippine bookstore’s signature ambiance has also become a haven for thought tinkerers and readers alike.