Parents are constantly on the lookout for ways to help their child thrive in school: volunteering in the classroom, providing enrichment classes, teaching study skills, or quizzing them on spelling words. There are countless ways to contribute to your child’s progress in school. But there is an even easier way which is often overlooked – reading aloud to them.
Reading aloud to children offers a myriad of benefits, and even infants are not too young. Here are just some of the ways it can help your child succeed in school and beyond:
Expands your child’s vocabulary
New research suggests that reading to children is even more effective than talking to children for building vocabulary. Sometimes parents will naturally explain the new words they encounter. Other times children will decipher the meaning from context. Both routes lead children to have an increased vocabulary which plays a key role in learning to read and is critical for reading comprehension.
Creates a Positive Attitude Toward Reading
These days, learning to read can be full of anxiety and stress. Reading is pushed to lower and lower age groups which can cause children who are not fully ready to read to feel inadequate. Reading aloud to your children gives them the attention they crave while building a positive association with books. This can counteract the message they may be getting from school that reading is mainly hard work or not inherently enjoyable.
Increases Fluency
When parents read aloud, they are modeling good reading fluency. Children hear how a text is read for best understanding. Reading fluency can influence a child’s overall comprehension.
Exercises Memory
Children can listen to a much more complicated story than they are capable of reading themselves. While listening to a story read aloud, children are remembering characters, the main plot, and perhaps even subplots. Children are picturing the story in their heads in a way they would not have to do for a simpler story they could read independently.
Exposure to other cultures and ideas
By listening to stories read aloud, children can gain knowledge of the world they could never experience without extensive travel as well as different time periods in history. Children can learn about other countries and historical events as they enjoy listening to their favorite stories.
Increases Empathy
According to a study by Rose Turner at Kingston University, reading can make children more empathetic. This may be because children interact with characters on a deeper level than they do when watching television or movies. As children imagine what the characters are going through, they put themselves in the character’s place, paving the way for being a better friend to the people they know in real life.
Exposure to Early Literacy
Reading to children provides many lessons in basic literacy. Even an infant can understand that a book is held right side up and that pages are turned one at a time. Older children may be following along and picking up on letters and words.
Help for Children with Specific Problems
The choices of children’s literature are so expansive that almost any problem or life circumstance can be found in a child’s picture book. Reading about another child experiencing the same problems can help a child feel understood and less alone.
Teaches Values
Reading aloud not only allows children to see the consequences of actions without trying it themselves, but also provides a springboard to these types of conversations. They listen as other children make mistakes and learn the consequences of the behavior. Since parents are reading aloud it gives a great opportunity to discuss these situations in a calm environment. Children may be much more willing to explore the meanings of the mistakes when they themselves have not committed the error.
When it comes to reading with your child the benefits are many! Not only do they gain solid academic and social skills, both of you gain the bonding time and cuddles. Reading to children can introduce them to a world of possibilities and set them on a path to success.