The Benefits of Reading to Children
In today’s digital age that is punctuated by the presence of gadgets, it comes as no surprise that kids these days are keener on playing with their XBOX 360s and PS3s and sitting at the computer rather than playing outdoors or reading.
In his written piece for The Register-Guard titled Are Video Games The Problem With Today’s Kids? Dr. Todd Huffman had lamented:
“…They (children) are not having conversations. They are not having family meals. They are not reading. They are not playing outside. They are not building, creating, or pretending. They are not taking time to just veg. And they are not getting to bed on time, or sleeping enough.”
However, the issue here isn’t merely about the interference of modern technology in kids’ lives today as much as it is about the decline in the importance of reading. Gone are the days when kids would pass their time either playing outside or reading a book. Forming a love for reading in children is a process that should ideally start at a young age, and this is a responsibility parents must take upon themselves if they want their children to be well-read later on in their lives.
The importance of reading alone is far too great to summarize, but it's safe to say that reading to a child helps him or her build a better vocabulary, have a vivid imagination, learn about the world, and develop a lifelong affinity for reading. Children have the most fertile imaginations, and reading to them gives them tremendous knowledge about the world we live in; it helps them travel the globe through the books we read to them.
Reading helps a child concentrate for longer periods of time as well, be more expressive, and boost his or her ability to solve problems in a logical manner. A report titled Becoming a Nation of Readers stated:
"The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children. This is especially so during the preschool years.”
When children are read to, they learn, over time, that the words used in the book correspond to the words we use in our vocabulary. This increases their comprehension skills and also helps them ‘get’ the written word at a far younger age. Additionally, reading from good books can help you instil important life skills and moral values in your child.
Though reading to a child is a serious responsibility, it must be done in a carefree manner. Reading a story to your little one can be a truly magical experience and also strengthens the parent-child bond. Due to this fact, the role of the reader here is as important as the book itself in helping a child develop mentally. You as a parent must make it a point to read to your child with enthusiasm, shed your self-consciousness, and make the characters come to life. Being convincing enough by building suspense and getting the rhyme, pronunciation, and tone just right will help your child build up a repertoire of characteristic story language.
Reading should be a fun experience, so don’t force it on your child if he or she is tired or not in the mood. After all, you are looking to develop a love for reading in your kid- not do the opposite.
>> If teaching your child to read is important to you, please click here for a simple and effective method that will help you teach your child to read
|
