“You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read with a child.”
This quote, attributed to Dr. Seuss, expresses the importance of parents reading to their children. Daily reading is so important, and The Gardner School makes time each day to integrate read-alouds into our student experience. Here are four important reasons for parents to read with their children daily.
Letter Recognition and Vocabulary
Reading out loud introduces children to letter shapes, sounds, rhymes, and phonemes in engaging and fun ways. A study from the Ohio State University estimated that children who hear books read aloud five times per week hear 1.4 million words by the time they reach kindergarten. That’s a giant amount, and it helps support language development and literacy in young children. When children are young, their ability to soak up and retain information is stronger than it will ever be again. Parents can maximize this special developmental stage by providing access to books and stories that can capture their child’s attention.
Imagination and Creativity
One of the best things about reading a book is how stories can transport us to different places and situations or evoke memories or feelings in a reader or listener. Reading daily helps to stimulate a child’s imagination, helping them learn to express themselves creatively while fostering curiosity and play. Parents and children can go on imaginative adventures together as they read. Through a book, children can experience new things, work through feelings, and develop a love for learning. All of this can happen just by opening a book.
Listening Skills and Working Memory
A child’s working memory consists of the facts they’re able to hold in their minds for a short period of time. Working memory is an important part of executive function that develops later in childhood. As children listen to stories, they’re expanding their capacity to hold information in their working memory. This ability can help academically and socially as their brains begin to grow and develop. Listening to books being read aloud also helps develop a child’s auditory capacity. Since information is often shared verbally, practicing focus and recall can help children as they prepare for kindergarten.
Bonding and Connection
Let’s not forget that one of the greatest benefits of reading together is that it is fun! Snuggling up with a good book and your favorite person is one of the great joys in life. You can share thoughts and impressions as you journey together through a story. Children, in particular, love the comfort that comes from reading a favorite story again and again. Through repetition, routine, and ritual, your child will associate reading with feeling known, loved, and understood. That’s well worth the time it takes to read together!
The Gardner School Supports Young Readers
Good books can jumpstart learning, enhance problem-solving skills, and assist in language development. That’s why reading is a fundamental component of The Gardner School’s approach to learning. To learn more about teachers’ favorite books at The Gardner School, visit TGS Recommends today!
