At KSP Book Club we often talk about the benefits of reading and how this one quality could make your child stand out from their peers.
In a quest to remain relevant, we will need to learn how to “unlearn.”
Author and Historian Yuval Noah Harari
Common Mistake Most Parents Do
We have spoken about the benefits of starting early, what it takes to raise a reader and the common mistakes parents make when raising one. But do you know a common mistake most of us make with our kids? The minute we see them stringing together a few words on their own and building their vocabulary, we take a backseat and get them to read on their own.
Wait!
We read to little preschoolers and toddlers- right? How does it help to read to infants after they are 5 or 6, when they can string words on their own? We tell you!
How Your Child Benefits When You Read To Them
- Their vocabulary improves
- Increases their concentration
- Improved their imagination
- Develops their language skills
- Helps you bond better with kids
Studies That Support This Case
- TIME magazine mentioned a research that stated that reading at home with children from an early age was strongly correlated with brain activation in areas connected with visual imagery and understanding the meaning of language.
- According to the National Center on Early Childhood Development, it is recommended that parents read to their infants, because even before they can talk, children need to hear language to support brain development.
- Children who are read to regularly may hear as many as 30 million more words by the age of 4 than those who are not, according to research by psychologists Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley.
- A report by the National Commission on Reading found that children who are read to at home are more likely to perform well in all facets of formal education.
- Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week.
- One 2019 studyTrusted Source estimated that children who are regularly read to in the 5 years leading up to kindergarten are exposed to 1.4 million more words than children who aren’t read to during those years.
What You Can Do Instead
- Earmark a time every day – even if it is just for 10 minutes- but make that 10 minutes special by reading aloud their favourite chapters- change your voci, include emphasis, comedy, etc and make it interesting for the kids
- Grab a book when you are travelling- by car, flight or even when waiting at the restaurants. Children need to get into the habit of reading.
- Spend time talking to your kids about the books they read. Have conversations about the books, even when you are reading. Stop to check if they are engaged or if they have drifted when you are reading aloud.
Check out more tips that I have shared in the FREE Guide we have put together for our readers.
And if you want to join the community of happy moms raising readers- join us at KSP Book Club- we share weekly reading lists curated by age and interest for your kids along with premium access to events and workshops.
Rati Ramadas Girish
Janani S Koushik
Mansi Zaveri
Rushita Sheth
