10 Reasons Why Reading Is Important For Kids
You know reading is essential for your child, but why?
How does reading actually help your child to grow and develop?
By understanding how reading can improve your child's vocabulary, confidence and social skills, you can be sure to encourage and approach it correctly.
Check out our top ten reasons why reading is so important for children below!
THE IMPORTANCE OF READING FOR KIDS:
Reason 1 - It Teaches The Value of Books
Have you ever heard Malala Yousafzai's famous quote? - 'One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.'
Reading can open so many doors for children and young adults. Encouraging reading from an early age signifies the importance of books and highlights them as essential tools for both learning and enjoyment.
FACT - Did you know that every fifth adult in the world cannot read or write?! The ability to read is a gift, and you should encourage your child to value their significance.
Reason 2 - It Improves Vocabulary
Reading introduces your child to a wide variety of words that will help improve their vocabulary and awareness of language. Children can connect meaning to words through story and discovery. Definitions become simpler as children begin to join them with sound and imagination, combining language with imagery. This can also improve their comprehension of sentence structure, rhyming and word association.
Reason 3 - It Builds Confidence
Have you ever struggled reading allowed? Felt insecure in your reading ability? This feeling is common amongst children and adults.
By beginning reading early, children become more confident in their approach to reading material. Reading a little daily can build fluency and accuracy in speech, giving your child confidence to tackle more complex material and not shying away from reading aloud.
Reason 4 - It Increases Concentration
Reading regularly can improve concentration abilities. Whether your child is reading aloud or you're reading to your child, investing time in and committing to a story will help your child concentrate for longer periods.
Reason 5 - It Is a Bonding Exercise
Having regular reading time with your child is a great way to build and encourage a strong relationship. The pleasure of books becomes a moment shared and allows you to bond through mutual enjoyment.
Top Tip - Try reading at the same time every day to give both you and your child something to look forward to throughout the day.
Reason 6 - It Encourages Empathy and Compassion
Reading helps children develop empathy for fictional characters and situations, which they will then unconsciously translate into real-life scenarios. Children can gain a strong understanding of emotions from reading, which will develop their self-awareness and relationships with others.
Reason 7 - It Boost Their Imagination
Fairies, Sword Fights, Dragons?! No matter your child's favourite reading topic, exploring magical worlds and made-up characters encourages them to use their imagination.
As children read more, their creativity grows, and they begin to think outside the box and explore different avenues. This opens up different ways of thinking and brings colour and excitement to their everyday.
Reason 8 - It Teaches the Importance of Diversity
Allow your child to explore worlds dissimilar to their own. Reading about different cultures, religions, and people is a great way to broaden your child's mind, giving them insight into other ways of living. Check out our blog, Why Diversity and Representation in Literature is so Important, for more information.
Reason 9 - It Develops Social Skills
Books teach children the right (and wrong way) to communicate. Reading provides topics for discussion and learning while improving problem-solving skills. Reading puts a child in another person's shoes, allowing them to feel each character's emotions, successes, and failures. This immersion in another person's mind gives your child the tools to communicate with people from all walks of life, understanding situations and reactions more clearly.
Reason 10 - It Prepares Them For Academic Learning
Did you know that students are less able to learn other curricula if they do not develop sufficient reading skills by the middle of primary school?
Reading consistently with your child is excellent preparation for academic learning. All the skills mentioned above will be excellent tools to help your child reach academic success. Reading comprehension is a large part of learning, so the more it is encouraged from an early age, the easier your child will find their studies.
The Department of Education suggests that reading for pleasure can assist with long-term academic success. Children who read for enjoyment find literary and language subjects easier than those who don't. As we know, reading improves concentration, which will be beneficial to learning.
Whether fact or fiction, a book is a source of information. Reading encourages your child to learn creatively and allows them to enjoy learning, instilling them with a thirst for knowledge.
Top Tips For Reading With Your Child -
So, you know the importance of reading, but how do you encourage your child to do it, and more importantly, enjoy it!?
Keep Books around the home to encourage a joy of reading. A study showed that 42% of children who have less than 10 books at home say they do not like reading. The study also showed that only 12% of children who have over 200 books at home dislike reading.
Have a designated reading time. Sticking to a schedule gives your child a moment to look forward to, and a regular pattern leads to a healthy habit.
Keep phones and tablets out of the room. Encourage your child to switch off from the digital world when reading. This will allow them to relax and fully absorb the story, improving their long term mental health.
Do not force books upon them. Perhaps Peter Rabbit was your favourite book as a child, but it might not be theirs. Allow your child to have a say in their reading material. Of course, encourage a diverse range of books but steer away from dragging out novels they are not enjoying!
Be silly! Give characters voices, act out parts of the story, re-read the juicy bits! Having fun with your child while reading is a great way to encourage them to see it as a fun filled activity.
Try Creating a Story. If your child is super anti reading, then try creating a story together verbally. This will encourage them to see how their imagination can be a fascinating tool. Why not try the 'Pass the Story' game? It will flex your creativity too!