Importance of Parents Reading Aloud During Early Years

Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn X (Twitter) Email

Parents usually want the best for their children and should want to nurture, teach, and set good examples. Reading aloud to children is a loving ritual for parents and children during early childhood. It teaches children to value reading, and by witnessing close adults read, they follow their patterns.

Reading together helps parents and children bond through story-telling and rhymes. Children follow language patterns, experience emotional connections with parents and understand different ways to retrieve information when they hear others read aloud.

Through practice, involvement, and repetition, I learned that reading was essential for my kids’ development. It was strange at first (reading aloud), but I practiced at local public schools, community centers, and child-care centers for more practice and confidence.

This post will explain the benefits of reading aloud to children during early development and discuss the importance of this seemingly simple task. We’ll discuss ways to teach kids to read and how to make it fun and exciting for those fighting routines. Let’s read!

This post may contain affiliate links.

Why Reading Is Important for Child Development

Children learn to read when they realize cereal boxes have activities on the sides and when they want to read their friend’s notes. Learning to read in early childhood gives children a head-start in life as they navigate the text-heavy lifestyles we have gotten used to.

Reading is good for cognitive development because children process and examine stories, promoting problem-solving and creativity in their everyday lives. Their mental action is swift during the early stages of life as their brain expands and strengthens. Children love reading because it prompts them to use their imagination, use their senses and play pretend.

Kids learn to communicate better when they learn to read because they witness verbal patterns and are exposed to specific character dilemmas within the books. When they understand the character’s motives, they listen to the different ways characters obtain information, reflect, and argue a point.

Reading helps children bond with parents through routine reading opportunities. When children predict parents will read, they understand there is a regular time to connect with caregivers. Kids develop verbal and language skills and feel loved during routine interactions. Young children learn to associate memories of reading positively.

Why Reading Aloud Benefits Children

Children want to witness parents practicing reading because they want to hear the story, see funny faces, and watch their parent’s reading habits.

Reading aloud encourages children’s brains to strengthen multiple mental pathways through repetitive experiences and, eventually, their own reading practice.

Kids process the story and want to discuss their ideas with parents and caregivers, which encourages dialogue.

Here are some different reasons reading aloud benefits children.

Vocabulary
Entertainment
Increased Attention span
Mental Connections
Emotion Regulation
Story Comprehension
Healthy Reading Habits

Reading print books together generated more verbalizations about the story from parents and from toddlers, more back and forth “dialogic” collaboration.
Reading Aloud | Reading Rockets

How Early Should You Start Reading to Children

Read to children as early as possible!

Infants and toddlers crave family bonding time and closeness very early in their lives. Read soft books to infants, board books to toddlers, and begin short stories with children ages 6 to 8. It is never too early to read to your child. Make routines that are appropriate for your kid’s age and development.

Practice skills yourself if you are worried about your tone, clarity, or conciseness.

When my kids were little, I practiced at a community center in front of a group of 12 kids. Take the steps you need to become a strong reader, and remember that it is a journey you will likely experience together.

Make reading routines fun and engaging to stay connected and loving.

Ways to Teach Children to Read

Many parents stress over the proper way to teach a child to read; it may be easier than you think. Children with developmental delays should see a doctor or therapist for steps tailored to their specific condition.

Most children learn to read organically when parents prompt them kindly and make it fun.

Ways Parents Should Teach Reading

Repetition
Use their finger
Focus on the sounds
Teach the upper and lower case
Try using phonics methods
Sight word cards
Word games
Sing!
Let them read to you
Make it fun!

Making Reading Routines More Fun

Sensory trays are a great educational tool and one that I use fairly often. When kids use sensory tables, they play and laugh; there is no stress. Putting letters, words, and numbers in the sensory trays will reinforce different sight words as they familiarize themselves with common words.

Letter magnets are a tried and true method for teaching children to read. Kids love making love wonky words and asking their parents to try to pronounce them. It might sound like silly, giggly fun, but they are learning to read as their parents say the long or jumbled words.

Foam letter soup has always been a hit in child care centers and at home. Some kids are more into pretend play than others; this may only work with kids who really love pretend cooking. Get a big pot and put foam letters into it with a wooden spoon. Children want to serve the letter soup and see their parent’s fun reactions to the words they are eating.

Try a personalized online program like Homer or Khan Academy to make reading more fun for kids. During the brutal winter days, consider a bit more computer time to reinforce reading skills. Online programs are OK in moderation and are full of comprehension quizzes, story-telling, and printables.

Final Words

Reading aloud to kids is a wonderful time for children and parents because they bond over familiar stories, nursery rhymes, and poems. Kids love being told the same stories repeatedly because repetition teaches them reading patterns and reinforces comprehension. When children start showing an interest in reading, parents can make it fun too!