Is it worth reading to children?

Reading to children seems to be an obvious element of everyday parenting routine. However, in reality, we often encounter a continuous lack of time, issues with a child’s concentration on the read content, or difficulty in choosing the “right” reading material. And suddenly, the simple act of bedtime reading becomes something surreal to us? So, what’s the deal with reading? Is it a good habit or an uncomfortable duty?

Definitely a good habit! There are many reasons why it’s worth reading to children. We can categorise them as cognitive, emotional, and social.

Cognitive benefits of reading

Reading enhances memory skills in children. When we listen to stories, we need to focus our attention on the narrative and connect facts to understand it as a whole. With each successive tale fragment heard, our brain forms new synapses (nerve connections) and enhances existing ones. In summary, reading and listening to stories stimulate the nervous system and improve a child’s brain function.

Acquisition of speech comprehension skills. Every parent eagerly awaits their child’s first spoken word. According to the sequence of brain maturation, the skill preceding speaking is comprehension, which we acquire through exposure to speech from early childhood. The more words and expressions a child hears, the more neural connections form in the brain, supporting them in developing speech comprehension abilities. Reading helps expand a child’s vocabulary and facilitates their understanding of the world around them.

Imagination. Reading is different from passive activities such as watching TV or using a tablet because it requires the brain to imagine and process information actively. While these other activities provide ready-made images and sounds, reading stimulates the areas of the brain responsible for creativity and imagination. Reading together provides an ideal chance to exercise our creative thinking skills. We can imagine what might happen to the characters in the future and verify our guesses by reading further.

Reading fairy tales can help develop a crucial need for continued brain stimulation and foster the habit of spending time away from screens. This can notably reduce the risk of developing dependence on electronic devices such as computers, phones, and other gadgets.

Reading is a form of self-development and acquiring knowledge. When a child realises that they are making progress, such as being able to listen to longer fairy tales, improving their reading skills, or finishing a novel, it boosts their self-esteem. As a child reads more books, they develop positive beliefs about themselves, such as “I can finish a book” and “I know what type of stories I like.” Reading with a parent also helps to strengthen their sense of control and influence over their own reading experiences.

Social Benefits of Reading

Reading and studying literature can improve a child’s speaking and writing skills. They will learn new words and gain knowledge on different subjects, which will help them communicate more effectively with the world around them. Equipped with an above-average knowledge base, this often facilitates adapting to new circumstances.

Familiarity with fairy tales and diverse stories enables a child to engage with their environment and establish a common language with other children who know the same or similar tales. Moreover, well-chosen literature can serve as a treasure trove of knowledge about appropriate and inappropriate social behaviours within a group. With parental guidance, practically every fairy tale can be used to extract causal relationships, allowing parents to teach their children about social attitudes and behaviours, as well as their consequences.

Reading arouses curiosity about the world and increases sensitivity and acceptance towards the diversity surrounding us. It’s a way to teach tolerance towards other cultures or different skin colours. By selecting appropriate literature, we can demonstrate the variety of human behaviours, choices, preferences, and character traits to a child. The distinctiveness of each story and the uncertainty of its outcome help spark and sustain a child’s curiosity. It’s important to show them that the world is depicted in thousands of tales and narratives, and reading allows us to journey into the past or explore the present, even if it’s happening on the other side of the world.

Emotional Benefits of Reading

Reading can serve as a moral compass and a source of understanding selected values in a child’s life. Listening to characters’ stories allows observing different attitudes and behaviours, placing the child in the reviewer role. Shared reading also provides an ideal space for acquiring the skill of deciphering emotions in characters. All of this helps broaden their range of emotions, those which the child might not encounter or experience daily. Additionally, this shapes the ability to determine which behaviours resonate with them and which do not.

By using the symbolism of good and bad characters, we subtly give the child a choice to align with a chosen side. The prevalent moral lessons in most fairy tales allow them to understand the consequences of bad-made decisions.

Reading together is about building a bond between a parent and a child. In today’s age of being constantly connected to phones, we often fail to realise how little real-time we spend with our children. In a space devoid of messengers, screens, and notification sounds, those 20 minutes of daily reading are ideal for establishing a routine with the child, offering a sense of security and predictability. It’s also a way to show the child’s undivided attention and focus solely on them.

Both reading and listening to stories teach patience and mindfulness in the “here and now.” We learn the art of stillness, which is crucial for a child’s sleep quality, especially in the evening. Evening reading also serves as a way to eliminate screen devices that disrupt sleep processes for all of us. Instead of watching a cartoon on a tablet, we opt for a book, and the positive outcomes of this choice become evident in a short period!