The Benefits of Reading
Immersing yourself between the pages of a good book can transport you from our world to an entirely different one.
You could be climbing the highest mountains or diving in the deepest seas, solve thrilling mysteries or even do magic!
xBut reading can also have many benefits for your child’s development! It’s how they can learn new words and phrases, acquire new skills and knowledge, experience a variety of emotions and even learn about different cultures.
Your PediPal TOP 10 benefits of reading include:
Expanded vocabulary! Reading increases the number and variety of words your children use. In fact, kids who are regularly read to in the years before kindergarten are exposed to 1.4 MILLION more words than those who aren’t read to!
Greater attention span! Reading helps kids develop key concentration and self-discipline skills leading to better academic performance.
Higher levels of creativity & imagination! Stories can open up whole new worlds to your kids that get them to start thinking outside the box.
Developing empathy! Reading a book allows us to experience the lives of other characters and identify with how they are feeling. This can help kids empathize with other people in the real world.
Social and emotional development. Reading can help young children learn how to cope with difficult or stressful experiences, like starting a new school.
Gaining a deeper understanding of the world. Books can teach us about different people, places, world events.
Stronger parent-child bonding. Reading to your child regularly is a shared event that both can look forward to and provides your kids with love and attention.
Improved listening skills. Hearing a story read out loud can improve your child’s level of comprehension.
Cognitive and language development. Verbal interactions between parents and kids may promote better language skills.
Improved social skills and interaction. Reading books on specific subjects can help kids not feel alone when dealing with something uncomfortable and can help them articulate their feelings to others.
Reading can provide children with valuable building blocks and skills required for lifelong success and can teach them useful coping mechanisms before they may need them.
All in all, reading for pleasure can affect a child’s development - from developing social and cognitive skills to their wellbeing and even mental health.
If you don’t know where to start, check out our Amazon storefront for our go-to book recommendations for your littles! On HealthyChildren.org you can also find a super useful comprehensive list of age-appropriate books categorized by valuable life lessons that can help your child’s development!
Your PediPals