Benefits of Reading to Children

While your children may be too young to read on their own, their capacity for learning is vast and can be directed towards development. Reading aloud to children has various benefits:

• By reading aloud to children even before they understand words, children are exposed to different word sounds, inflections of voice and tone, and to new concepts, which creates a readiness to learn. It expands their vocabulary, helps with language development and increases children’s reading skills.
• A child who has been read to from an early age will learn to listen, and will be better prepared for school. As such children also learn to read sooner, they perform well in school.
• Attention span, ability to focus, expression of emotions, and creativity are all developed with parents reading aloud to children. It sends a message that creativity and imagination are important and appreciated in your family.
• Children will learn how to respond to situations, people and concepts that they may not have yet been confronted with through stories.
• Reading aloud to children provides an opportunity for parents and children to spend quality time with each other and creates a bond that is special, as well as becoming a well-loved family tradition.

Parent Tips for Reading Aloud to Children

When reading aloud to children, follow a few simple steps to make the experience better and more educational.

• Choose books with bright colors and pictures for very young children. Even if a child is too young to understand words or a story, looking at pictures will develop eyesight and keep the child’s interest from wandering.
• Use a sing-song tone to preserve interest and to expose children to phonetic sounds and words. Children’s reading skills as well as vocabulary are developed when they hear a word repeatedly and understand its concept.
• While reading aloud to children, using different voices for different characters and making sound effects to match the story fascinates them. Involve them in the story by asking them to make sounds, or to point out characters.
• Read slowly and stop to allow children to examine pictures. Ask questions about pictures on the page, or ask what they think will happen next.
• Make sure that reading time is always quiet and there are no disturbances. The best time for reading aloud to children is usually just before bedtime. It gives children a chance to wind down after the day’s activities, and is less distracting for adults as there are no phone calls or chores to complete. A story before bedtime can be a well-loved part of a child’s bedtime routine for years to come.

Children have different patterns of behavior. Some only want to look at pictures, some want you to read continuously so as not to break the spell, and some will pick up a story book and “read” to you, by making up their own story based on the pictures. As long as they are creatively challenged, inspired and motivated; all benefits of reading to children, don’t try to change this pattern.

Encouraging Children Reading Skills

Parents who actively attempt to encourage development of children’s reading skills find that it is easier to inculcate the habit of reading independently.

• Take children to a library or book store and allowed to choose books for themselves.
• Create a reading space with place to store books. Children love the idea of their own den or retreat and will go there often.
• Children learn from observation. When parents set an example by reading on their own and appear to enjoy it, children will copy their behavior and read as well. Teach children to respect and love books, and to treat library books as their own.
• Limit television time so that children have spare time in which to read. If a television is on, it is a rare child who will choose to read instead. Other distractions like internet use, video or computer gaming and hand-held gaming devices should be limited as well.
• When children show interest in a hobby or a specific topic, providing them with books to read about it will teach them how reading opens up avenues of learning.

Through reading aloud to children or by letting children explore books on their own, parents can introduce ideas of new countries, cultures and times to children. While these stories are interesting, children also learn to respect and understand differences.

Don’t force children to read during their spare time or they will come to dread it. Don’t list the benefits of reading aloud to children or insist they set aside time. Instead, choose books that are age-appropriate and will interest your child, and keep them within reach. A casual mention of an interesting story without revealing the end usually works best: “I was looking at this book here; it’s a story about pirates who kidnap a little boy…” The natural curiosity of a child will compel them to at least leaf through the book, if not read it. Above all, remember that reading, whether reading aloud to children or children reading on their own, should be fun, not a task to be completed.

References:

1. Improving Reading for Children and Teens – Child Development Info
2. Reading with Your Child at Home. NSW Public Schools

Benefits of Children’s Early Learning

In addition to the short- and long-term benefits that children receive from quality early childhood education, it is observed that parents also display improved attitudes towards their children’s education and learning when families are accustomed to children’s early learning.

• It is estimated that children from low-income families show greater results from quality early childhood education as it provides training and stimulus that they otherwise do not receive. Problems in later life such as drop-out rates, illegitimate pregnancies, arrests, and drug abuse are less likely to occur when this income group had children’s early learning activities.
• Higher IQ scores, as well as better performance in school were reported in children who underwent quality early childhood education, at least during early school years
• In some cases during a study, children who qualified for special education and mental health diagnosis when they enrolled in children’s early learning programs made such improvements that they stood in the normal range of development after three years.
• Children display improvements in cognitive development, math skills, vocabulary and word analysis, and social skills with early learning activities.

Quality Early Childhood Education

While quality early childhood learning has a variety of benefits, it is effective only when appropriate to the age and learning abilities of the child. Factors such as the interactions with caregivers and teachers, learning activities and games, size of the groups, and child-adult ratios in these classes affect the benefits of the early learning experience. In addition:

• Teachers and caregivers should ensure that a long-term view of learning is taken, and prepare the child for school, not create a race to accomplish tasks
• Allow children to explore both guided and independent practice and early learning activities
• Use clear directions, explain connections between activities and provide help when needed during children’s early learning
• Create a safe, warm and friendly atmosphere that children look forward to entering
• Offer parents opportunities to participate in their children’s early learning activities

Children’s Early Learning at Home

Finding and evaluating good childcare and quality early childhood education centers can take time, but children’s early learning can start at home. From early childhood, children possess abilities of logic and analysis, reasoning, and vocabulary development. With creative thinking, parents can help children to develop a readiness to learn and a liking for different subjects during daily interactions and tasks.

• Introduce new words and concepts during conversations. Children are capable of holding extended conversations without baby-talk, and should be encouraged to do so.
• As children learn drawing, spelling and writing, involve them in early learning activities like creating pictures, handmade cards, and lists
• Read stories to children regularly and ask them to point out characters from picture books, or later, to discuss new words or concepts.
• Encourage problem solving instincts in children by not rushing to help when they face problems. Helpful hints and positive reinforcement will ensure that children learn to tackle problems with creativity and originality.

References:

1. Research on Early Childhood Education – Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory
2. Investing Today for Tomorrow: The Costs and Benefits of Early Childhood Care and Education – University of Pittsburgh – School of Education