When my children were just little tiny infants barely able to hold their heads up or even sit on their own we made sure to start reading to them. Babies love hearing their mommy or daddy's voice and reading is a great way for them to listen to you while you tell a little story.
Of course the first books we started reading were the durable board books that could last through the child exploring the book on their own. By exploring on their own I mean chewing on the pages, licking it and many times dropping or throwing it down on the floor. Those board books sure could take a beating but I just loved watching my child explore a book.
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FAVORITE BOARD BOOKS
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If your little one has a hard time sitting still on your lap that is totally normal! Just keep trying and eventually I promise, they will start sitting with you listening to the story and looking at the pictures. Be patient with your child and let them explore the book in whatever way they choose. Also, don't expect too much from a youngster - remember their attention span is short!
Even though my kids can read on their own (except our youngest), I still make it a point to read books aloud to them almost every day and especially before bedtime. Most nights as my youngest sits on my lap to hear a bedtime story the older children wander into his bedroom just to listen to the story too. Who doesn't love listening to a treasured story that you've already heard a hundred times being read one more time!
We read short stories when they were very young and as they got older (3-4 years old) and could sit still and listen for longer periods of time we started reading lengthier stories. Like -
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| find it HERE |
Even though my kids can read on their own (except our youngest), I still make it a point to read books aloud to them almost every day and especially before bedtime. Most nights as my youngest sits on my lap to hear a bedtime story the older children wander into his bedroom just to listen to the story too. Who doesn't love listening to a treasured story that you've already heard a hundred times being read one more time!
I'm not a trained teacher, doctor or psychologist but as an mother I can say in full confidence that reading books to my children has been one of the most important things I have done for my kids. The benefits are immense and lifelong. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics it is recommended that parents start reading out loud to their children from the time they are born! (source)
I put together a list of 10 reasons why it is important to read to your children and I hope this inspires you to start today or keep reading if you are already doing so.
I put together a list of 10 reasons why it is important to read to your children and I hope this inspires you to start today or keep reading if you are already doing so.
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10 Reasons Why It Is Important To Read Aloud To Your Children
1. Books are Brain Food - reading is GOOD for your child's brain! Regions of the left part of the child's brain become active, even in infants, when they are being read to. So the more you read to your child the more you help the neurons in this left region of the brain grow and connect in a way that will benefit the child in the future.
2. Promotes Physical Closeness and Bonding - Holding your child in your lap or having them sit next to you while you read out loud to them is one of the most pleasurable activities that you can do with your child. This unhurried time the child has with their parent, who is focused only on them (put that phone away mommy!) benefits both the child and parent.
3. Fosters Short and Long Term Positive Behavioral Traits - a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics to determine the impact on social-emotional development of a child who experiences positive parenting through reading aloud and play shows how big the impact reading and playing with young children can have in shaping their social and emotional development. Reducing problem behaviors like hyperactivity, aggression and difficulty with attention are all benefits from reading to your child the study found
4. Spark Your Child's Imagination and Creativity - reading just adds a little fuel to their already imaginative and creative fire. Why not stoke those flames with good stories from a variety of genres!
5. Jump Start Your Child's Language and Literacy Skills - whether you homeschool like us or not, reading aloud to your child will give them a jump start in preparation for kindergarten with better vocabulary, higher literacy, better concentration and the ability to pay attention.
6. Quiet Time is Precious Time - everyone needs a little "down time" in their busy day and that includes young children. Maybe they have outgrown nap time but they certainly haven't outgrown some quite down time. This is the perfect opportunity to read to your son or daughter giving them that much needed break from their busy lives.
7. Begin to Build an Appreciation for Art and Writing - what child doesn't love to look at the pictures in a picture book? Seeing the pictures and listening to the story all help your child piece together the story and the sequence of the story's events. Learning about colors, shapes and even different media used to create the pictures is a way to help your young child begin to appreciate art.
8. Learn New and Fun Facts - filling their little minds up with fun and interesting facts from the books your read to them is just plain FUN. Knowledge is power so why not start instilling this concept into them from an early age.
9. A Great Way For A Child To Explore The World - from the safety of their own home, in the lap of a trusted adult, you can introduce your child to different cultures, languages, foods and traditions through a book.
10. Promotes Communication - encourage your child to communicate by asking questions about the pictures, what the main character is doing, how the story makes them feel. Building a solid relationship through communication with your child at a young age will benefit them throughout their childhood and into their teen years.
2. Promotes Physical Closeness and Bonding - Holding your child in your lap or having them sit next to you while you read out loud to them is one of the most pleasurable activities that you can do with your child. This unhurried time the child has with their parent, who is focused only on them (put that phone away mommy!) benefits both the child and parent.
3. Fosters Short and Long Term Positive Behavioral Traits - a study done by the American Academy of Pediatrics to determine the impact on social-emotional development of a child who experiences positive parenting through reading aloud and play shows how big the impact reading and playing with young children can have in shaping their social and emotional development. Reducing problem behaviors like hyperactivity, aggression and difficulty with attention are all benefits from reading to your child the study found
4. Spark Your Child's Imagination and Creativity - reading just adds a little fuel to their already imaginative and creative fire. Why not stoke those flames with good stories from a variety of genres!
5. Jump Start Your Child's Language and Literacy Skills - whether you homeschool like us or not, reading aloud to your child will give them a jump start in preparation for kindergarten with better vocabulary, higher literacy, better concentration and the ability to pay attention.
6. Quiet Time is Precious Time - everyone needs a little "down time" in their busy day and that includes young children. Maybe they have outgrown nap time but they certainly haven't outgrown some quite down time. This is the perfect opportunity to read to your son or daughter giving them that much needed break from their busy lives.
7. Begin to Build an Appreciation for Art and Writing - what child doesn't love to look at the pictures in a picture book? Seeing the pictures and listening to the story all help your child piece together the story and the sequence of the story's events. Learning about colors, shapes and even different media used to create the pictures is a way to help your young child begin to appreciate art.
8. Learn New and Fun Facts - filling their little minds up with fun and interesting facts from the books your read to them is just plain FUN. Knowledge is power so why not start instilling this concept into them from an early age.
9. A Great Way For A Child To Explore The World - from the safety of their own home, in the lap of a trusted adult, you can introduce your child to different cultures, languages, foods and traditions through a book.
10. Promotes Communication - encourage your child to communicate by asking questions about the pictures, what the main character is doing, how the story makes them feel. Building a solid relationship through communication with your child at a young age will benefit them throughout their childhood and into their teen years.
Let's not stop at 10 reasons. What other benefits to books provide for Children?
Parenting Tips - Summer Reading Book List
Looking for a fabulous printable to keep track of what you and your child read together? This awesome Summer Activity Planner has the perfect tool - a Summer Reading Book List that you can fill in as you read. Kids will have such a sense of accomplishment at the end of summer seeing all the books they read (or you read to them)! (affiliate link)
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