The power of reading books to children
Our world is a tough place to grow up. It always has been and always will be. Childhood is fleeting and passes in the blinking of an eye. If parents aren’t careful, they’ll be empty-nesters with empty memories. One of the easiest ways to build a trove of beautiful memories with your children is to read books to them. In addition to creating memories, you’ll also be building valuable learning experiences for your children.
“People would stand in line for days and pay hundreds of dollars if there
were a pill that could do everything for a child that reading aloud does. It expands their interest in books, vocabulary,
comprehension, grammar, and attention span.
Simply put, it’s a free ‘oral vaccine’ for literacy—Jim Trelease from The Read-Aloud Book
“Children are made readers in the laps of their parents,” –Emilie
Buchwald
Here are FOUR benefits of reading aloud to kids
It’s an easy way to spend time
with your kids
I find it ironic that parents lament the fact that “kids these days”
are glued to phones and other electronic devices all day. However, the worst offenders of this habit are usually the grown-ups, not the
kids. Mobile devices are sucking the
life out of our lives and the relations from our relationships. The divide between parents and children is
growing broader and broader. Setting
aside time each day . . . or even every other day . . . to read aloud to kids
is a tremendous opportunity to spend quality time with your kids. And it requires ZERO screens 😉
Instills moral lessons
Parents typically want the best for their children. They want them to grow up and be good
citizens possessing high moral character.
Reading books can be a great way to introduce examples of moral character
as exhibited by the characters of books.
Facilitates conversation
Books are an incredible catalyst to conversation. They present multiple layers of topics to
chat about, beginning with the plot and characters to deeper dives into the “morals”
of the story. When books become a part
of your family’s life, your conversations will take on a richer more meaningful
purpose.
Instills a love of reading
Thomas Jefferson once said, “I cannot live without books.” The love of reading is an attribute that will
pay dividends for a lifetime. Reading is
a source of knowledge, comfort, inspiration, direction, motivation, and more. Never before has the task of transferring the
love of reading to the rising generation been more difficult.
Yet is is possible. Reading isn’t something you have to sneak into a kid’s life like you would sneak veggies into a kid’s life.
Start today by reading to your kids today.
