When was the last time your child curled up with a good book? If your kiddo is not yet reading independently, when did you last read to her? Is reading really that important? These are all important questions for parents to consider. Our passion at Red Apple Reading is to help parents raise confident readers. Today we would like to share five reasons that reading is good for your child.
1. Reading Develops the Imagination – Reading is the perfect vehicle for fostering a good imagination in your child. Unfortunately, many of our children’s imaginations are stunted. Instead of playing outside or picking up a book, most children choose to watch cable television, play video games, or surf the web. Reading has the power to transport your child to another world. She can imagine what the book’s characters and settings look like as well as envision outcomes. If you wish your kiddo had a better imagination, encourage him to turn off the computer and pick up a book instead.
2. Reading Builds Vocabulary – Reading exposes your little one to words he would not otherwise encounter. This exposure, in turn, allows him to learn new words and use them appropriately. Reading is an important tool in building a strong vocabulary!
3. Reading Fosters Empathy – Reading requires children to look at life through the perspective of another. Consider this quote from a 2012 LiveScience article: “Kids have very complex emotions and processes of thinking, ways of thinking they need to develop,” said Karen Coats, a professor of English who specializes in children’s literature at Illinois State University. “Reading,” Coats told LiveScience, “gives kids the chance to develop their ‘empathy muscles’.” As parents we need to offer this important opportunity to our children.
4. Reading Breeds Success – Kids who enjoy reading tend to be successful in other areas of life. RIF reports that, “Students who reported reading more frequently for fun have higher reading proficiency scores than those who reported reading less frequently. Interestingly, a positive correlation also exists between the amount of time children read for pleasure and their math and science achievement”. All parents want their kids to experience success. When mom and dad promote reading in the home, they give their children a head start in experiencing an accomplished life.
5. Reading is Good Cheap Fun! – If your little one complains of boredom, reading is “just what the doctor ordered”! A good book provides an instant vacation from the monotony of life. Furthermore, children experience real life pressures each day. Reading provides a healthy escape from these everyday troubles. You may not be able to take your child on an expensive vacation, but you can provide him with exciting reading material! Always have a selection of different books available for your child.
There are a multitude of reasons that reading is good for your little one. Discover for yourself the many benefits reading provides for your child!
