When they’re reading—or listening to you read—kids’ minds are at work, taking in all the language they hear and learning lessons from the characters’ experiences. That’s why the best preschool curriculum in Royal Palm Beach, FL, places the most importance on activities like reading time.
Babies and young children are like sponges: they actively and constantly soak up practically everything in their environments. During these times, offering them enrichment opportunities and knowledge you wish to foster is key, and books can be a valuable ally in that. In this article, we’ll explain why that is.
Why Can Kids Benefit from Reading?
Reading to your child, at any age, will help boost their brain development, develop their language skills, and expose them to new vocabulary, new ways of using the language, and—above all—new experiences.
Besides building their creativity and imagination, this will make it easier for them to understand the world and to learn about new subjects once they get to school.
Moreover, reading to them will open the door to fostering their interest in books in the future. If they don’t see adults interacting and enjoying books, chances are high that they won’t feel any interest in them in the future.
Here are some other ways in which a few books can impact your kid’s future.
1. Developing Listening Skills
For preschoolers, listening is often the only approach to books. Even if they’re able to read, they may not be so fond of sitting still for long periods of time and going back and forth to the dictionary for every word they don’t know—or Google, as newer generations may call it.
Moreover, kids are well-used to listening, be it their parents or to their newly acquired teachers. Listening is, after all, how kids learn to understand their parent, their environment, and the best ways to communicate their needs to others.
However, listening to a story read aloud requires your child to comprehend at a deeper, new level. It compels them to listen to others for extended periods of time, improving both their listening and concentration skills.
2. Cognitive and Language Development
Even the youngest children can benefit from hearing their caregivers read to them on a regular basis. According to a 2013 study, infants who were read to and conversed with showed improved language abilities and cognitive development, including the ability to solve problems.
Additionally, a 2018 study indicates that this connection persists into adolescence, so your child will benefit from this for years to come.
3. An Expanded Vocabulary
According to experts, reading books to children also helps them increase the quantity and variety of words they use. In fact, a 2019 study showed that kids who get read to on a regular basis during the five years before kindergarten are exposed to 1.4 million more words than kids who do not get read to at all.
As we have already discussed, books frequently contain words that you might not use in regular conversations.
When reading a book, kids may encounter more specific names for plants or animals they may’ve already known or flowery, unique adjectives they hadn’t heard of before. In these situations, teachers can explain these terms, helping them expand their vocabulary and find new, more accurate ways to express their wants and needs.
4. Extended Attention Span
Children who read regularly benefit from improved self-discipline and focus.
Children often have trouble focusing at first: they wriggle in their seats, become distracted, and start counting down the seconds until recess. But, over time, regular reading gets kids sitting still, listening to comprehend—especially when the story gets good.
When they’re listening, they extend their attention span and hone their memory retention abilities.
5. Foster Creativity
Everything your kid hears and reads in the book is new and exciting.
Nonfiction books that talk about dinosaurs, bugs, and airplanes open a whole amazing world to your kid’s eyes. Furthermore, fiction stories use fantastical elements that transcend reality and encourage children to think outside the box.
Children have vivid imaginations as it is, and further feeding those imaginations with literature can increase their creativity, help them develop interests and ideas, and foster emotional health.
6. Learn Valuable Life Lessons
Books offer a space for kids to discuss real-world issues with age-appropriate words. Kids tend to be especially drawn to books that feature children their own age doing things they would do in everyday life, and that’s because they can identify with the characters.
By reading books they can identify with, children may be better prepared for complex situations, like moving across the country, losing in their favorite sport, or visiting the one who must not be named (the dentist).
7. Foster Social and Emotional Development
Reading to young children can help them learn coping mechanisms for challenging or stressful situations because they can learn from the characters and their experiences.
Moreover, children’s stories about possibly emotional events, such as starting school, can spark difficult conversations that open the door to reassure them that their feelings are normal.
Why Parents Should Consider Reading to Children, Too
By bringing your kid to a reliable preschool, you can rest assured that your baby is learning the important things they need to be set for a happy, healthy, and successful life.
Still, taking the mantle of reading to them yourself can offer you and your family some extra benefits. Reading can be a wonderful way to connect and bond with your kid and slow down after the hectic rush of daily life.
If you are still unsure where to begin, visit your neighborhood library or your go-to church to ask for book suggestions, borrow books for free, and even sign up for public reading events.
Foster Your Kid’s Growth with the Best Preschool Curriculum in Royal Palm Beach, FL
When it comes to reading time, there are no rights or wrongs. You can read to your child in any number of languages, at the same time every day or at a different time each day, or alternate reading duties with your spouse on a regular basis.
Simply having a caregiver read to them will considerably benefit babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Here at Neighborhood Kids, we take reading time seriously because we understand how beneficial it can be for your kid in the long run. If you’d like to learn more about all the ways in which we care for your child, reach out!
