Want your child to succeed in life? Encourage them to read.
Numerous studies show the importance of reading for children. The more a child reads, the better they become at it. Even listening to reading makes them better readers, writers, speakers, and thinkers.
11 Reasons Why Reading Is So Important for Your Child
1. Reading Stimulates Imagination and Creativity
Reading stimulates children’s imaginations. Think about it. When your child views a show on Netflix, the work of imagination has already been done for them. Once the script was written, creative people went to work casting (or drawing) characters, designing the set, creating costumes, planning camera shots, and creating sound effects, music, and CGI according to their imaginations.
But when your child reads a book, their mind goes to work casting their own characters, designing their own sets, setting up their own scenes according to their imaginations. Reading books stimulates the mind to activity versus the passive state of watching videos.
2. Reading Nourishes Family Closeness
Reading can bring families together.
I cherish the memories of my father reading to me when I was young. I’d snuggle up to him on the couch. His thick fingers would turn the pages as he read in his husky end-of-the-workday voice.
I was determined to do the same for my children. I read to them every night as we snuggled in bed. Even now, on the days I watch my granddaughters, we read together in a comfy living room chair— sometimes separately, but often with both squeezed onto my lap at the same time. It’s all about being close.
Even when your kids are older and reading on their own, you can talk about the books they’re reading and tell them what you’re working on.
3. Reading Exercises the Brain
Reading is SO good for the brain! It strengthens brain connections and builds new ones. It improves thinking skills.
Furthermore, it increases your child’s ability to focus and concentrate.
Reading offers a brain-strengthening alternative to videos, video games, and net-surfing, all of which can alter the brain and lower your child’s ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Expands Language Skills
Reading to babies increases their ability to understand language and, eventually, to talk.
Reading to older children expands their vocabulary and increases their knowledge of grammar, mechanics, syntax, and sentence structure.
All of this results in better reading, speaking, and writing skills.
5. Reading Opens New Vistas
Reading opens new worlds and vistas that pull our children beyond their everyday life, expanding their knowledge of the world beyond their doorstep.
When I was young, reading introduced me to ranch life among the sweeping hills of Wyoming (My Friend Flicka), the hardscrabble life of backwoods Florida “Crackers,” (Strawberry Girl), and the magnificent beauty of the Swiss Alps (Heidi).
It gave me an understanding of people not like me and planted a yearning within me to travel and experience other cultures.
6. Reading Develops Empathy
As your child identifies with characters in the story, he or she develops empathy for them and the situations they’re placed into.
Putting themselves in characters’ places and thinking about how they would feel in similar situations, translates into your child caring for others in real life.
7. Reading Increases the Likelihood of Success in School and Life
President Harry Truman said it well: “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.”
Studies show that students who are avid readers are more likely to succeed in school. It follows that students who do well in school are more likely to succeed in life.
8. Reading Reduces Stress
Unlike the flash and constant movement of video games and videos, reading calms the brain and reduces stress.
In our hyperactive world, the quiet peace that reading can afford—children sitting quietly with a book and their thoughts—is an important skill to learn.
9. Reading Provides Endless Entertainment
Sitting in the doctor’s waiting room? Standing in line at the grocery store? Resist the urge to hand your cell phone to your child so they can watch Netflix.
Instead, stash a couple small books in your purse for them or let them read a book off of an app on a device. Even picture books are available online through your local library.
Books are small and can go almost anywhere you go. And they provide “good-for-you” entertainment for your children.
10. Reading Encourages the Love of Learning
Reading encourages a thirst in your child to learn more–and read more.
Books like the Little House series (Laura Ingalls Wilder) can encourage your child to learn more about pioneer days in American history. October Sky might encourage an interest in science.
Reading the biography of Helen Keller when I was growing up caused me to learn to sign the letters of the alphabet.
11. Reading Improves Reading Skills
It’s true. Studies show that the more children read, the better they become at it. That makes sense, as any skill is improved through practice.
I hope I’ve convinced you how important reading is for your children.
As an educator and as a parent I’ve seen the the huge difference reading can make in children.
