Read Across America Day just happens to be Dr. Seuss’ birthday! March is also National Reading Month. Because reading is one of my hobbies (or was when I had time to do it), I want to share why you should read to your kids – at any age:
Reading… on the floor of a plane
Four reasons why studies show reading to a newborn is beneficial:
- While developing children’s language and communication skills, reading also helps children understand the world around them and gives context to what they see and experience. It is a way to open the world for your child.
- While babies may not understand the concepts and story lines of books, hearing your voice is comforting and, in time, the child will find meaning in the words you are using. In fact, the more words parents use when speaking to an 8-month-old infant, the greater the size of their child’s vocabulary at age 3.
- Reading to an infant can promote emergent literacy and language development. It helps children become familiar with books and accustomed to listening and focusing.
- According to analyses of the PISA exam (Program for International Student Assessment), which is given to 15-year-olds worldwide, the biggest factor influencing higher scores was whether or not a child was read to on a regular basis when they were young.
