The busyness of modern life can make even the pleasure of cuddling with your child and reading a book feel like a chore or luxury you can’t afford. It is becoming the norm for parents to let their children fall asleep with technology instead. Only 64% of families with children under 7 read them a bedtime story. Making a habit of reading with your kid every night, for just 5 to 10 minutes, has many positive and lasting benefits worth the commitment.
Reading Enhances Your Child’s Imagination & Empathy
Children have incredible imaginations, but they also need stimulation. Looking at the pages of picture books and hearing stories unfold engages their imagination in a way that TV shows and movies don’t. It provides them with the opportunity to participate actively in the story and ask you questions.
Relating to the characters you read about, and discussing their emotions and experiences, can also help your child develop greater empathy. Studies have shown that reading fiction increases emotional intelligence and empathy. It is a valuable tool to help your children understand how others’ think and feel. It gives them the ability to put themselves in someone else’s shoes to understand their perspective better.
Books Increase Your Children’s Vocabulary
Children learn language through listening and repetition. Books are full of vocabulary words that often don’t come up in regular conversation from the names of colors, animals, and shapes to many different adjectives and verbs. While you may get tired of reading the same books over and over, your child enjoys the repetition because it helps them to remember the words and their meanings. Reading books at higher reading levels, as your children get older, will expand their vocabulary even more.
Regular Reading Time Helps Children Become Lifetime Learners
In a rapidly changing world, being a lifelong learner who can adapt to change is an asset. You can help prepare your child to enter the real world with the ability to learn quickly and adapt through your nightly storytime routine. Talking to your child about the books that you read together shows them that learning can be interactive. Making learning interactive and fun can prepare your child to become an engaged, inquisitive student and develop the habit of continual learning.
Bedtime Storytime Establishes a Positive Routine
Children are creatures of habit. They crave routines because it provides them with a sense of comfort and security. Additionally, routines can make transitions easier for them. Establishing a routine of brushing their teeth, putting on their pajamas and reading a book or two together helps them make the transition from playtime to bedtime. Putting the screens away before bedtime can also help them have better quality sleep.
Reading Together Strengthens Your Bond
Children benefit from having your undivided attention. Studies show that spending quality time with children doing everyday activities helps you to form a deeper emotional bond. Offering that to them can be hard when juggling multiple responsibilities in the home and outside of it. Cuddling together in bed reading offers you an opportunity to have that quality time. The small amount of time that you commit to reading with your children every night will have a big impact on their happiness and development.
The teachers on our team at Kids R Kids at Avalon Park would be happy to share their recommendations for pre-school age books that your child will love. We believe deeply in the importance of laying the foundation for literacy during these early years. If you would like to learn more about the engaging and supportive learning environment that we have created for pre-school students, call to schedule a visit today!