Why It's So Important to Read to Children

It is no secret that literacy is vital in ensuring the proper development of the human mind. From the moment we reach the mental capacity to sound out letters into forming words, we are encouraged by our teachers and parents to channel this new skill of ours into reading books. Reading is seen as one of the major pathways to becoming an intelligent and capable student, so of course once children learn how to read, it automatically becomes an indispensable power that must be continuously exercised and strengthened. However, many fail to recognize the importance of encouraging literacy in children, before they even become actively literate.

According to a study conducted by Spreeder.com, an online app used to improve reading speed and eliminate poor reading habits, literacy holds a different importance in our lives at different ages. For example, When we first learn how to read at about the age of six, we read because we’re working to develop the skill, and to improve our problem-solving abilities when faced with having to sound out difficult phrases. When we reach the age of 10, we read to explore alternative ways of life and prepare ourselves with knowledge for the realities of the world. While the varying purposes of reading are essential for each of their corresponding age groups, it can be argued that reading holds the most fundamental role for us from our first day in the world to about the age of five.

In the first five years of life, the human brain is most susceptible to outside influences. Meaning, from the age of zero to five, the consistent actions of our parents/guardians and the experiences we get exposed to are much more impactful in influencing our personalities and daily habits than during any other age range. Hence, it is no surprise that countless early childhood development specialists have found that reading to young children is incredibly important in facilitating long term brain development. As claimed by The Children’s Bureau, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting innovations that promote better development in children, there are seven main benefits to reading aloud to young kids:

1. Reading improves their cognitive development

2. Reading improves their developing language skills

3. It motivates them to work towards academic success later on

4. Reading to young children increases their concentration and discipline

5. It improves their imagination and strengthens their creativity

6. Reading to young children will likely cultivate a lifelong love of reading

7. Reading improves their emotional intelligence and creates morals

All of the benefits listed above have extraordinary lifelong effects on children, which is why it’s so important to bring literacy into children’s lives starting at a young age. Of course, in order for these lifelong impacts to truly take effect, literacy must be continuously encouraged for children as they grow older. That being said, one of the principle reasons for why reading to children before they can actively read to themselves is necessary is because it cultivates a lifelong love of reading. This love of reading will cause kids to continue willingly exercising their reading skills as they mature, and allow the countless benefits that literacy will grant them in their future, to take hold.

As Book Bears’ mission is to promote literacy in young children and help them discover the joy of reading, there are so many wonderful things that our organization can bring into the lives of young minds. Stay tuned for our future events and projects on our social media platforms to find ways you can bring literacy to the community. As is apparent, it’s time to stop overlooking the significance of reading to young children, and begin encouraging our future generations to find the joy and excitement of reading!