Reading to your child has many benefits outside of introducing new words, such as building empathy and a strong imagination. These traits and tools help strengthen childrens’ minds and give them a new outlook on life. Keep reading to learn what your child gains each time they read or are read to!
Language development
An Ohio State University study found “young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to.” Children can develop an extensive vocabulary just by hearing new words and asking questions!
Empathy
When children hear or read stories about different characters and realize their lives are different, they become curious. These stories give them insight into others as they learn to put themselves in the character’s shoes. Some questions to ask children while reading to them are “How would you feel if you were in the same situation?” and “How do you think the character feels right now?” We like to ask these questions to help our students think about others and, in turn, help them become empathetic individuals.
Creativity
Children get to exercise their imagination through listening to and reading stories. One study showed students that read often had a 95% more active imagination than kids who rarely or never read (57%). A strong imagination sets students up for success in the future. Dr. Maria Montessori once said, “We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry.” Through the reading of stories, children establish building blocks for science, math and of course literary skills.
Reading opens many doors for students, and we always encourage them to keep learning! If you’re interested in the ways we implement these lessons at MMS, check out this blog post!