The Impact of Reading to Your Child

There are so many things you can do with your children to help them grow. Pretend play, socializing, going to the park, snuggling on the couch. But there are a few activities that can help your child develop needed life skills better than others. One of these is…

Reading With Your Child

Yes, this one simple activity can prepare children for PreK, college, and beyond.

Why is Reading so Important?

Do an internet search for the statistics of reading to your child, and the numbers will astound you. Multiple studies and observations have proven that kids who are read to, especially between birth and five years, have a much higher chance of succeeding academically. The numbers differ, but the difference is clear.

One of the most important lessons that reading teaches is vocabulary. Books, magazines, signs, grocery lists – these all use varying words that probably will not come up in a conversation with a one-year-old. Yet hearing their parents or caregivers say those words not only teaches youngsters the words, but the context helps them learn the meanings. The very first word that all four children I care for learned to read and spell was the word “stop.” Every time they saw a stop sign, at least one of them would say, “S.T.O.P. Stop!”

My preschooler is learning double-digit numbers by reading speed limit signs. The two girls enjoy reading books to their brothers. Even the youngest is learning to tell his own stories because he loves hearing them so much.

Besides the learning aspect, reading also gives you and your child a calming, focused time together. Whether it’s you and one child at a time or you read to all at once, it keeps everyone focused and sitting still. Maybe it’s the only time you have to snuggle. Or your kiddo is wound up before bed and needs help calming his or her brain and body. Sitting and listening to a story or two benefits your child and your relationship.

When is the Best Time to Read With Your Child?

The simple answer to this is all the time. Does that mean that you should read a book every hour? Or that you need to read so many books every day or week? No. It just means that you can read to or with your kids whenever you choose.

When I worked at a daycare, we were instructed to read to the kiddos at least fifteen minutes every day. Yes, even to the infants who barely knew how to make any sounds themselves. Even with board books geared toward babies, fifteen minutes wasn’t very long. And yet it gave those children all of the benefits I mentioned above.

With the children I care for now, I have a set thirty-minute story time every day. However, we stay flexible with it. If we eat lunch late or the boys need to go down earlier for nap, then we shorten story time. On the days I have all four all day long, I let them each choose one book. This has sometimes extended our reading time past the allotted thirty minutes. Both of which are fine.

There have even been some days that our schedule gets changed, which leads to missing story time altogether. On those days, either we just skip it and forget about it for a day, or if the kids beg for it we read a book or two later in the day. Yes, it is perfectly okay to not read every single day. Just make sure to have more days that you do, and your child will have a better start.

Where Can You Read a Good Book?

Once you have a time picked out to read, it’s time to sit down, snuggle up, and enjoy a story or two. But where is the best place to do this? Well, wherever you happen to be works just fine! Calming your child’s mind for sleep? Lie on the bed with the book either in the air or on a pillow. Is it a warm, sunny day? Find a comfy spot outside.

On school days when I only have one kiddo most of the day, he sits on my lap on the couch for story time. When the others are not in school, they sit on the floor in front of the couch so they can all see the pictures. Once a week, I take him to the local library for an extra story time, where the kids sit on a rug while the storyteller stands before them.

These are a few suggestions, but really you can read anywhere. The car, the beach, a park, or even at the kitchen table. You can set up a special book area in the living room, playroom, or your child’s bedroom. As long as you and your kiddo can both see the pictures, then you can enjoy a book together.

What Books Are the Best for Your Child?

So, you have a time and place picked out for story time, but what books do you grab? If you’re reading to an infant or toddler that likes to explore with his or her mouth, then you don’t want to have a paper book within reach. Board books, or books made of cardboard, are thicker and better able to withstand teeth and drool.

For older children, the stories in board books might be too short to hold their attention. Paper or hardback books tend to have more words, pictures, and pages. They take a little longer to read. The words in them are also a little more advanced that the basic words in books for infants, which helps build their vocabulary.

As for topics, that can depend on what else is going on. Are you doing a farm-themed lesson plan? Find a few books about farm animals, growing vegetables, or maybe tractors. Is your child obsessed with dinosaurs? Keep a book or two that teachers about the different types of dinosaurs on hand. Want to incorporate some learning into story time? There are plenty of ABC or counting books out there.

I also suggest making sure your kiddo has access to his or her favorite books. Whether it be a book of nursery rhymes, a classic from your own childhood, or a new story that includes a silly song you have to make up a tune for. If your child asks for it every time, then no matter how annoying the book is, read it on a regular basis. Reading their favorites encourages them to read more and learn better while they do.

How to Expand Your Child’s Reading

Tired of reading the same books over and over? Has your kiddo grown bored with story time? This doesn’t mean you have to go buy more books. Just go to your local library. While many people have forgone using the library in favor of e-readers and audiobooks, it is still an amazing place for children and adults alike.

At my local library, they have clubs and resources for adults in addition to books. They also have an entire children’s department. It includes rows upon rows of books, a tablet center, puzzles and games, and a story room. Each week, they have story times separated into under age 2, ages 2-5, and a once-a-month family story time for all ages. They have a different theme every week, so the kids never get tired of hearing the same book!

In addition to the regular story times, the library also does special programs for children. Over the last few months, they’ve had a music program once every month for kids under 5. During the summer, they show kid-friendly movies, have magic shows, and other activities for both youngsters and their older siblings.

These activities give your children new experiences, foster their craving for learning, and even provide social interaction with other adults and kids their own ages. Regular visits to the library also broaden the selection of books so you don’t have to read the same story every single day for five years…

Want Some New Books Suggestions?

Here are a few favorites that the kiddos and I enjoy:

Share some of your favorite books or places to read in the comments below!