10 Reasons To Read To Your Child

We all know that learning to read is important, but as parents what do we do to facilitate this milestone? One amazing way we can help children learn to read is to read aloud to our kids.

If you’re wondering “Why should I read to my child?” then consider all the benefits of reading to babies and children.

Reading together helps to create a bond. Reading to your child creates the time to snuggle together. It allows you and your child to be involved in an activity that is enjoyable and strengthens the parent-child relationship.

Reading develops language skills. As your child hears sounds, your child can process these sounds into words, which later turn into sentences and the written word in school.

Reading together encourages a thirst for knowledge. Reading to your child demonstrates that reading is important to you, thus developing the desire to become a reader in your child.

Reading is a wonderful before bed routine. Children thrive when routines are present in their lives, and what better way to instill a reading habit than in a bedtime routine. Plus, reading has a calming effect on a restless or fussy baby or toddler.

Reading enhances a child’s concentration. Reading books fosters a child’s ability to listen and pay attention. Practicing the focus it takes to listen to and enjoy a book or a story is a great way to build concentration and flex their attention span muscles.

Reading develops your child’s imagination. Just like you can get lost in a good book (speaking to fellow bookworms here), your child can do the same while you are reading to him/her.

Exposure to reading exercises your child’s brain. There are a lot of different activities we parents can do to help with our child’s development and reading is a fabulous one. And a very enjoyable brain-building activity as well.

Books are a form of entertainment. They are screen-free (unless you’re using an eReader of course) ways to have fun.

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Reading is an interactive play time. If you get a personalized book, you can enjoy watching your child recognize his/her name and other personalizations. There are also many sensory books (such as touch and feel or lift the flap books), books that have a sound component, and books that encourage movement or reaction (Press Here, for example).

Reading to young children sets them up to succeed. Getting children kindergarten ready and prepared for going to grade school involves reading skills.

Reading in 5 Easy Steps

We’ve talked about why reading is important to our children, let’s chat about how to teach your child to read! I am thrilled to have been introduced to this awesome program written by a lovely author in a fellow Facebook group I’m in. The program is called Reading in 5 Easy Steps and it’s a collection of lessons and activities parents can do with their little ones to help them learn to read.

Here are the steps the 5 Easy Steps to Reading program uses:

Step One – Using Our Senses
Step Two – Phonemic Awareness (letter & sound activities)
Step Three – Blending Sounds
Step Four – Using High-Frequency Words
Step Five – Parents As Partners

The book is full of simple and fun activities to introduce letters to kids and I especially like the sensory exploring of letters and sounds. I’m looking forward to doing some of these with my preschooler.

You can learn more about Reading in 5 Easy Steps by Shirley Gaither here: