Importance of reading

We’ve all been taught from a young age how important it is to read.

But with so many children growing up with technology, it is more important than ever to encourage children to read books and develop a love for reading.

Here are several reasons why it is important to read with your children, especially from ages two and up.

Basic speech skills

Throughout toddlerhood and preschool, your child is learning critical language and enunciation skills.

By listening to you read One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, for example, your child is reinforcing the basic sounds that form language.

Pretend reading — when a toddler pages through a book with squeals and jabbers of delight — is a very important pre-literacy activity.

As a preschooler, your child may begin sounding out words on his/her own.

The knowledge that reading is fun

Early reading for toddlers helps them view books as an indulgence, not a chore.

Kids who are exposed to reading are much more likely to choose books over video games, television and other forms of entertainment as they grow older.

Books have the power to benefit toddlers and preschoolers in a myriad of ways.

As a parent, reading to your child is one of the most important things you can do to prepare them with a foundation for academic excellence.

More logical thinking skills

Another illustration of the importance of reading to children is their ability to grasp abstract concepts, apply logic in various scenarios, recognise cause and effect and utilise good judgment.

As your toddler or preschooler begins to relate the scenarios in books to what’s happening in his own world, he/she will become more excited about the stories you share.

The basics of how to read a book

Children aren’t born with the knowledge that text is read from left to right or that the words on a page are separate from the images.

Essential pre-reading skills like these are among the major benefits of early reading.

Academic excellence

One of the primary benefits of reading to toddlers and preschoolers is a higher aptitude for learning in general.

Numerous studies have shown that students who are exposed to reading before preschool are more likely to do well in all facets of formal education.

After all, if a student struggles to put together words and sentences, how can they be expected to grasp the maths, science and social concepts they’ll be presented with when they begin primary school?

Better communication skills

When you spend time reading to toddlers, they’ll be much more likely to express themselves and relate to others in a healthy way.

By witnessing the interactions between the characters in the books you read, as well as the contact with you during story time, your child is gaining valuable communication skills.