1. A stronger relationship with you. As your
child grows older, he’ll be on the move—playing, running and constantly
exploring his environment. Snuggling up with a book lets the two of you slow
down and recaptures that sweet, cuddly time you enjoyed when he was a baby.
Instead of being seen as a chore or a task, reading will become a nurturing
activity that will bring the two of you closer together.
2. Academic excellence. One of the primary benefits
of reading to preschoolers is a higher aptitude for learning in general.
Numerous studies have shown that students who are exposed to reading before
preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education. After
all, if a student struggles to put together words and sentences, how can he be
expected to grasp the math, science and social concepts he’ll be presented with
when he begins elementary school?
3. Basic speech skills. Throughout toddlerhood and
preschool, your child is learning critical language and enunciation skills. By
listening to you read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, your child
is reinforcing the basic sounds that form language. “Pretend reading”—when a
toddler pages through a book with squeals and jabbers of delight—is a very
important pre-literacy activity. As a preschooler, your child will likely begin
sounding out words on his own.
4. The basics of how to read a book. Children
aren’t born with an innate knowledge that text is read from left to right, or
that the words on a page are separate from the images. Essential pre-reading
skills like these are among the major benefits of early reading.
5. Better communication skills. When you spend time reading
to toddlers, they’ll be much more likely to express themselves and relate to
others in a healthy way. By witnessing the interactions between the characters
in the books you read, as well as the contact with you during story time, your
child is gaining valuable communication skills.
6. Mastery of language. Early reading for toddlers
has been linked to a better grasp of the fundamentals of language as they
approach school age.
7. More logical thinking skills. Another illustration of the
importance of reading to children is their ability to grasp abstract concepts,
apply logic in various scenarios, recognize cause and effect, and utilize good
judgment. As your toddler or preschooler begins to relate the scenarios in
books to what’s happening in his own world, he’ll become more excited about the
stories you share.
8. Acclamation to new experiences. As your
child approaches a major developmental milestone or a potentially stressful
experience, sharing a relevant story is a great way to help ease the
transition. For instance, if your little one is nervous about starting
preschool, reading a story dealing with this topic shows her that her anxiety
is normal.
9. Enhanced concentration and discipline. Toddlers
may initially squirm and become distracted during story time, but eventually
they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book. Along with reading
comprehension comes a stronger self-discipline, longer attention spa and better
memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when she enters
school.
10.The knowledge that reading is fun! Early
reading for preschoolers helps them view books as an indulgence, not a chore.
Kids who are exposed to reading are much more likely to choose books over video
games, television and other forms of entertainment as they grow older.
Books have the power to benefit toddlers and preschoolers in a myriad of
ways. As a parent, reading to your child is one of the most important things
you can do to prepare him with a foundation for academic excellence.
Happy reading!
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