Why should we read to our children?
We all subconsciously know that reading is important and we try to start as early as possible. But why do we do so? Ever wondered about it ? Lets talk about reasons besides the pleasure of reading.
1.Bonding – We all know that our children share the same roof with us only for the first 18 years or so.Out of which very few years they will want to be read to. Why miss on those precious years ?
2.Vocabulary – they get rich vocabulary and start using the words they hear or read from the book . If you observe well, you will be surprised.
3.Attention to details – When we read aloud to our children, they focus on our tone, our sounds, the rhythm, the pauses we give and the emotions we share. It is beautiful.
4.Easiest to do on a tiring day. Somedays I think, that is the easiest thing we can do for our children amongst all the other things that we do for them. Be it cooking or setting up an activity – the book does everything for us. We only have to read.
5.Teaches empathy to our children. Some amazing books lets our children step out of their world and get to live a life of the lead character. They feel what they feel and empathy comes naturally to them in real life for they understand what it is like to be in someone else’s shoes.
6.Problem solving skills – Now that they have lived many moments in their head. God forbid if they are in a similar situation, they know or can think on how to deal with it.
7.Comfort – Sometimes we all like the comfort of reading the same book or watching the same images, over and over again. Or probably the comfort of sitting on your parent’s lap or the comfort of having a wriggly 3 – year old on your lap. What do you think?
8.They become natural story tellers. Have you noticed that already in your child ?
9. Just for the pleasure of reading
10.Prepares them for heavy text book reading in the future – I wanted this to be the last one. With heavy text books like Animalium or Botanicum, we are exposing them to heavy text book readings they would be doing when they are in school or college. It wouldn’t be daunting to them then.
If you like this post, then please read other posts about reading and phonice here
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