Even if your child cannot read on their own yet, you can still cultivate a love for literature within your child. Reading with your child is a beautiful experience! And it’s an activity that the two of you can enjoy together for years to come. As your child grows older, they might not need you to read to them anymore. But you can still share a bond over your mutual appreciation for reading.
Reading to your child helps them develop valuable language skills, learn more about their world, and form a deeper relationship with you! Here are a few reasons why you can both benefit when you read to your child.
Quality Time
First, reading to your child is simply a great way to spend quality time with them. In our fast-paced world, it can be so difficult to spend enough time with the people you love, even your own children. The years go by fast, and before you know it, your child will be old enough to read on their own!
While they’re little, why not enjoy spending some time reading to them? It’s something that you will both remember in the future. Even at your busiest, you can find a few minutes to read to your child before bed.
Find Shared Interests
If you want your child to be an avid reader when they group up, you can encourage them by reading to them before they even start school! Not only will your child likely develop an interest in reading, they will also discover new subjects that spark their curiosity.
Chances are, they will be interested in the different topics that are covered in the books you read to them! They might also start asking for books on topics that they find fascinating, and you can encourage these interests.
Learning Tool
Reading is a powerful learning tool. Your child will learn more about lots of topics through the books you read. Furthermore, they will also naturally start expanding their vocabulary. They’ll also pick up on grammar rules!
Even your child hasn’t expanded school before, you can give them a foundation to build on through reading. And when your child gets older, they will be motivated to learn about their own interests by heading to the library.
Establish a Routine
Routines are very beneficial for children. Knowing what to expect, day in and day out, provides them with a sense of structure and predictability. Just like adults, children can get anxious and stressed when their lives feel unpredictable. Reading can be a part of your child’s daily routine.
For example, you can make it a point to read to your child before bed every night. They will always have this to look forward to at the end of the day, and so will you! When you’re exhausted from work, reading to your child before bed can actually be quite refreshing.
Provide Comfort
Overall, reading with your child can be a source of comfort for both of you. Reading gives you the opportunity to disappear into a story and escape for a little while. You can imagine yourself elsewhere, and so can your child. For children, learning to use their imagination is a valuable skill, and it’s an ability that often fades as they grow older if it isn’t nurtured.
As a parent, you can let your child’s imagination run wild by reading to them. In the future, they know they can turn to books when they’re stressed.
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