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Writer's pictureSarah Humphries

5 reasons to read aloud to your children

Reading aloud has been proven to offers many benefits to children, some obvious and some less so.


Language development: Reading aloud to children is a well-established practice that has been shown to have many positive benefits, including enhancing language development. Firstly, reading aloud to children helps to expose them to a wide range of vocabulary, which in turn can help them develop their own vocabulary. According to a study by Cunningham and Stanovich (1997), children who are read to at an early age are exposed to more complex and varied vocabulary than those who are not. As a result, they have a greater chance of developing a more extensive vocabulary themselves. This is because hearing words in context is a more effective way of learning them than simply memorizing them in isolation. Reading aloud to children can also help them develop their comprehension skills. When a parent or caregiver reads a story aloud, children are exposed to a range of narrative structures and literary devices, such as foreshadowing, character development, and plot twists. This exposure can help children develop their ability to comprehend and interpret written language. A study by Anderson and Freebody (1981) found that reading aloud to children can help them develop their comprehension skills by improving their ability to make predictions, understand cause and effect relationships, and draw inferences. Finally, reading aloud to children can help them develop their speaking and listening skills. When a parent or caregiver reads a story aloud, children have the opportunity to ask questions, make comments, and engage in discussions about the story. This type of interaction helps children develop their speaking and listening skills by encouraging them to express their thoughts and ideas in a safe and supportive environment. A study by Bus et al. (1995) found that reading aloud to children can improve their oral language skills by promoting interactive dialogue between the reader and the child. Cognitive development: Reading aloud to children is an effective way to promote cognitive development. The act of reading exposes children to new vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and diverse ideas that can stimulate their cognitive abilities. Reading aloud exposed children to rich language. A study conducted by Hart and Risley (1995) found that children who are exposed to rich language through reading and conversation have a significantly larger vocabulary by the age of three than those who are not exposed to such language. The study also found that children who were read to regularly had higher scores on cognitive measures related to language, math, and problem-solving skills. The exposure to rich language through reading aloud is particularly important for children from low-income families who may not have access to language-rich environments at home or in their community. It can also lead to icreased brain activity. A study conducted by Hutton and colleagues (2015) used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity in children while they listened to a story. The study found that children who were read to had increased activation in areas of the brain associated with narrative comprehension and visual imagery. This suggests that reading aloud to children not only stimulates their cognitive abilities but also enhances their imagination and creativity. Another benefit of reading aloud to children is improved executive function. Executive function refers to a set of cognitive processes that are responsible for planning, organizing, and executing tasks. A study conducted by Diamond and colleagues (2007) found that preschool children who participated in a literacy intervention program that included reading aloud had improved executive function compared to those who did not receive the intervention. The study suggests that reading aloud to children can have long-term effects on their cognitive abilities and may help promote executive function skills. Social -emotional development Reading aloud to children has also been shown to have numerous benefits for their social and emotional development. One of the key ways that reading aloud to children can help their social-emotional development is by fostering empathy and understanding. Research has shown that children who are read to regularly are more likely to be empathetic and understanding of others' emotions and perspectives (Evans, Shaw, & Bell, 2000). This is because reading aloud exposes children to a variety of characters and situations, helping them develop a greater understanding of different experiences and perspectives. As children develop this understanding, they are more likely to be able to put themselves in others' shoes and respond with empathy and compassion. Reading aloud to children can also help encourage positive social interactions by creating opportunities for dialogue and discussion. When parents read aloud to their children, they often pause to ask questions and engage in conversations about the story (Sénéchal & LeFevre, 2002). This can help children develop important social skills, such as turn-taking and active listening, as well as a sense of confidence in communicating their thoughts and ideas. Another important way that reading aloud can benefit children's social-emotional development is by helping them develop emotional regulation skills. When children are exposed to challenging or emotional situations in stories, they have the opportunity to practice regulating their own emotions and responding in a healthy way (Sulik, Huerta, & Zentall, 2017). For example, a child who hears a story about a character who is sad or upset can learn to identify and regulate their own emotions in a similar situation. This can help children develop important emotional regulation skills, which are essential for building positive relationships and managing stress. Fosters love of books and reading Reading aloud to children is an essential tool for developing a lifelong love of books and reading. Children who are regularly read to are more likely to develop a positive attitude toward reading, which can have a profound impact on their educational success and overall well-being. Here are three scientific references that demonstrate how reading aloud to children fosters a love of books and reading: A study conducted by the National Literacy Trust found that children who were read to frequently were more likely to enjoy reading and have a positive attitude toward books and stories. The study found that children who had been read to at home in the past week were more likely to say they "enjoyed reading very much" than those who had not been read to. Furthermore, children who enjoyed reading were more likely to read on their own and develop good reading habits. Reading aloud to children can also help foster a positive emotional connection to books. A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology found that children who were read to frequently had more positive attitudes toward reading and books. Additionally, the study found that the emotional connection that children developed with the characters in the story helped to facilitate a positive attitude toward reading. Promotes parent child bonding Reading aloud to children is not only beneficial for their language, cognitive, and social-emotional development, but it also plays a vital role in promoting parent-child bonding. In this article, we will discuss how reading aloud to children promotes parent-child bonding and provide three scientific references to support this claim. Reading aloud to children creates a shared experience between parent and child. The act of sitting together and reading a book allows for a special bonding experience that can help to strengthen the parent-child relationship. According to a study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, shared parent-child reading was associated with more positive mother-child relationships, and greater maternal warmth and sensitivity towards the child. Reading aloud to children also provides an opportunity for interaction between parent and child. Parents can ask questions about the story, make connections to their child's life, and discuss the illustrations. This back-and-forth conversation allows for a deeper connection and can help children to feel heard and understood. A study by the University of Michigan found that children who had more positive interactions during shared book reading had stronger mother-child relationships and were better at regulating their emotions. Reading aloud to children can also help to foster an emotional connection between parent and child. Books can provide a safe space for children to explore their emotions and for parents to connect with their child's feelings. According to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading aloud to children can help to promote emotional security and attachment between parent and child.

The many benefits of reading aloud to children
Bed time story

In conclusion, reading aloud to children promotes amongst other things language development, cognitive development, social/emotional development, fosters a love of books and promotes parent child bonding.


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