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The Importance of Reading to Children
By Andrew Loh
Reading is perhaps one of the oldest activities in the history of
humankind apart from writing. Reading is a ubiquitous activity as well.
Reading is a very important activity for everyone including young
children. In fact, it is an important activity for children, because
those who start with the art of meaningful reading at an early age
will not only become wise and intelligent, but also successful in
personal and professional spheres of life.
Now, you may ask why reading is an important activity for children. Did you ever think why
this statement is true for all children irrespective of their
nationalities and creed? Now, what types of benefits do your children
gain by developing reading habit? Another important question is very
simple - Does the habit of reading really matter? There are many
practical benefits to reading. In essence, most of them lead to the
development of an all-round personality that is dynamic and lively.
Here are some of the most significant advantages of developing
reading habits in children:
Develop and streamline important language skills
For an effective development of language skills, children will need to read more and become better
at it. The more they read and become adept at the habit, the more
effective they will be in their life. In fact, you will need to make the
process of reading enjoyable and exciting to your children. In other
words, your children will need to find that habit thrilling and
interesting. Young readers need constant nurturing and support when they
are developing reading habit. Early language skills are easy to develop
when parents help them read at an early age. Acquisition of language
skills at an early age will also help them become sharp and smart in
their adult life.
Elementary grammar skills, development of
diction, streamlining of proper usage of phrases and synthesis of
correct pronunciation are some of the benefits of reading habit. When
children read aloud, they also develop better-spoken English skills and
superior ability to express their opinions. Reading books, poetry and
children magazine will also help children develop superior vocabulary
skills. Children may not understand what they read or speak when they
hold a book in their hand. However, this habit will become a stable
platform for understanding the context for superior absorption of
language skills.
Enrich and empower children's life
Knowledge is unlimited! Your children will have all the knowledge
and skills in the world when they develop reading habit. They can find
knowledge through books, magazines and internet. Your children can
easily tap a vast repository of knowledge provided they develop the
habit of reading. The knowledge source that your children get from
reading could be factual, theoretical or even practical. In essence,
your children will come to understand that reading will help them
acquire a lot of information and details. Reading is a solid tool to
enrich one life and it is one for your children too.
Reading can enhance children's social skills
In practice, reading is a solitary activity because it needs complete
silence and solitude. However, it can also be a tool to enhance a range
of social skills like development of family bondage and emotional
attachment among different members of the family. Just remember your
grandma reading out an interesting story and all other young members of
the family sitting down to listen to that beautiful story. A story read
aloud enhances comprehension and listening ability among children. In
addition, it is also a time to socialize and relax. There could also be
an opportunity to discuss about the moral of the story. The act of
reading loud could also be extended to other members of the family
including younger siblings.
Reading encourages emotional bonding between the parents and children
Reading should always precede bedtime. Available research suggests that when parents
read stories just before their children go to bed, it will enhance the
existing emotional bonding between them. This bonding acts like a strong glue to
develop better personal relationship as well as different social skills.
When parents read loud, their children will also develop an ability to
read and understand the text and content of a book. Repeated reading
also makes children adept at understanding even the most complex of
topics and subjects. When children feel that they are becoming experts
in reading, it raises their self-confidence and self-esteem that
eventually aid them in scoring better marks and grades. "Reading makes a
man perfect" - that is how the traditional saying goes. Reading is a
great marker that divulges a person's taste, style, charisma and
mannerisms. Continue to read
How to Improve Your Child's Reading
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