Why Parents Should Read With Their Children
Today, we know that parents can give their children a head start in life by reading to them on a regular basis, starting as early as the preschool years and continuing well into the primary school years. The preschool years are special years for building a foundation to become a good reader. This is the time when children are most receptive to books and learning. What’s more, they have a strong desire to spend time being close to Mum or Dad.
Here are nine reasons why parents should read to their children:
- Reading together nurtures the bond between parent and child. To a child, there is nothing better than the warmth of a parent’s voice and the chance to be physically close to Mum or Dad.
- Reading together builds social skills through the child’s interaction with his parent.
- Reading together provides a child with a better grasp of written language because she can learn how to follow the words on the page as she listens to her parent speaking them and pointing them out.
- Reading together builds a child’s vocabulary.
- Reading together introduces a child to language that is richer and more formal than everyday conversation.
- Reading together allows the feeling of love between parent and child to become associated with the activity of reading. This love later transfers to a child’s appreciation for books and reading.
- Reading together on a regular basis gives children an opportunity to learn about life in a fun and pleasant way.
- Reading together helps children succeed in school and feel confident that they are able to keep up with their peers.
- Reading together offers children the opportunity to learn about various moral lessons introduced in the story.
Kenneth N. Condrell Ph.D Child Psychologist