Reading stories is part of the bedtime routine for many families. You have probably also heard that it is good to read to your children and you have done it, but you may not know that the benefits of reading aloud can extend much further than you think , because the truth is that it is important to do it from childhood through adolescence. And it is that reading aloud not only supports language and literacy skills in young children, but also offers benefits for children throughout their later stage.
How reading benefits children of all ages
- Benefits of reading in babies (0-12 months)
It is never too early to start reading to your baby, since the benefits of reading to children are even before they are born, and with this practice the language skills of babies and the foundations of language can already be put into operation.
Babies can hear their mother’s voice and absorb language before they are born , especially during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy, to be exact. Reading aloud to your unborn baby can lay the foundation for her future language development and give her a first lesson in speech patterns, as well as kickstart her social skills.
It may take years for your baby to learn to read on his own, but exposure to books at this early age already gives babies a foundation for how books work . Younger babies will bump or try to squeeze books, and older babies will figure out how to hold it and turn the pages. Hearing others read enthusiastically, using expressive sounds or different voices for different characters, creates great emotional awareness in babies. This, along with pointing and touching books, helps develop social skills in young babies.
- Benefits of Reading for Very Young Children (1–3 Years)
Your toddler may seem more excited about the pictures than the words in his favorite storybook, but the reality is that his mind is working harder than you can imagine during that late night story time. In addition, reading aloud teaches children the basics of books and allows them to know the world, as well as develop their basic speaking skills.
Listening to the words in a book read reinforces young children’s understanding of how to pronounce and enunciate words . Reading aloud also encourages “pre-literacy,” such as when children turn the page and squeal or show enthusiasm for the story or what they see. Also keep in mind that younger children often cling to a favorite book and can answer questions about it, such as “What is that?” This can teach them to identify everyday objects they see in their world, such as cars, animals, or colors.
- Benefits of Reading in Preschoolers (3–5 Years)
Many preschoolers have a favorite book that they request over and over again. So, when you read a story to your children for the umpteenth time, remember that they are reaping benefits, such as increasing their vocabulary.
The more adults read aloud to children, the more their vocabulary will grow and the more they will learn about the world and their place in it. This is especially important for preschoolers, who are expanding their vocabulary daily and learning to identify letters and match them to sounds.
Reading aloud also encourages children to read on their own. When children hear a favorite story that an adult reads, they are more likely to independently search for similar books. This can be a big step for preschoolers, who need a lot of practice to improve their literacy skills .
- Benefits of reading in elementary school children (5 to 12 years old)
Elementary students are taught reading skills in school, but that doesn’t mean you should stop reading to them at home. Reading aloud develops children’s advanced literacy skills, and this is just one of the benefits of reading aloud to elementary school students.
Reading aloud increases empathy in children and allows them to use their imaginations to explore people, places, times, and events beyond their own experiences. This exploration is a key component of children’s empathy skills . In addition, we must bear in mind that elementary students have already advanced beyond the basics in reading, and are delving into a vocabulary and sentence structure in a more complex way. Reading aloud to them can therefore help them make that transition.
- Benefits of reading with adolescents (13–18 years)
It is common to think that the time to read to children ends when they become teenagers. But it is not true! Because reading to children still has many benefits in the adolescent stage. Most adults can remember those typical high school literature assignments that made them hate reading, but just as the wrong books can turn teens away from reading, the right books can spark new interests in them. Reading aloud to your teen can introduce him to new forms of literature that he may never have explored, such as poetry, biographies, or collections of stories.
It is also common for adolescents’ interest in books to generally decline as they grow older, but if they observe that adults read (and read to them) regularly, this can become a strong role model that they want to follow in their lives. . When children see you excited about reading, they will pick up on your enthusiasm, and you will be teaching them the true love of books and language .
In short, reading to children at any age makes a difference and provides benefits at any stage of life.
Do not stop doing it!
