Do you want a bright future for your child?
The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research found something to make children do better as they age.
Plus, it is possible for children regardless of parental income, education level or cultural background.
The research, funded by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, successfully proved and measured the causal effect between frequency of reading to children and their development.
The longitudinal study followed reading skills followed 4,000 4 to 5 year old children since 2004 until they reached 10-11 years old.
Professor Guyonne Kalb, co-author and director of the institute’s Labour Economics and Social Program Policy said that “doing this basic thing of reading to them (the children) leads to better developmental outcomes.”
| Frequency | Reading ability (compared children being read to 0-2 times a week) |
|---|---|
| 4-5 times a week | equal to children 6 months older |
| 6-7 days a week | equal to children 6 months older |
If you need more reasons to keep reading to your child, here are 10 more reasons:
Parent and child bond
Every time you spend with your child is precious.
Make reading a routine and your special time to slow down and cuddle with your child.
Academic excellence
Numerous studies show that children who are read to have a higher learning aptitude in general. Reading to your child prepares them to understand print. It exposes them to the rhyme and rhythm that will help them to learn how to read.
A child who cannot read would struggle putting together letters and make sense of the words in books and eventually concepts in different subject areas.
Language development
The language used by authors in books lends itself to your little one. There are words in the books that you might not use in your daily conversation and your child would only find first context in the story.
Point to the pictures and introduce new words encountered.
Your child will also be tuning in to how you pronounce and enunciate words you read.
Children will also catch the correct grammar and syntax of sentences by simply listening and reading books.
Book handling skills
Model how to handle books and turn pages properly.
Make sure to point at words as you read to train their eyes to move from left to right while reading.
These are essential pre reading skills. When your child starts to “pretend reading” you know your child is on the right track.
Better communicators
Children who are read to by a variety of books are exposed to stories with different characters and plots. These characters can be great models of how children should interact with others. The books characters may teach children how to express themselves, how to relate with others and even teach them about good manners.
Logical Thinkers
Children exposed to books have better grasp of abstract concepts. They can “apply logic in various scenarios, recognize cause and effect and utilize good judgement.”
Ask questions about the story and help your child relate the story to the real world.
Creative Thinkers
Stories from books tickle your child’s imagination and creativity. Read to your child, ask questions about the story, and ask your child to imagine a “what if” in the story.
Acclimation to new experience
Books can also be your child’s best friend. You can buy or borrow books that talk about things that will happen to the child or to your family for the first time – like first time to go to school or first time a tooth fell out and even divorce and death.
Almost every major life event has a children’s book written about it all you have to do is look for the one that suits your child and family’s need best.
Concentration and discipline
Reading trains your child to concentrate and focus all while having fun.
Also, it helps your child improve reading comprehension, self-discipline, l attention span, and memory retention.
Love for reading
Spending time with your child reading sends a powerful message that reading is a wonderful activity, not a chore or homework.
Children who are exposed to reading at a very young age tend to choose reading over other forms of entertainment like videogames and television even as they grow up.
Reading to your child has a multitude of benefits and it is as simple as sitting together to read a book.
If you have not started reading to your child yet, start now. It is always better late than never.
Trust me, (and all the other experts), reading to your child will come a long way.
Happy reading!
Special thanks to Emily Mitchell for the main image.
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