An Eccentric Lifestyle

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Importance of Reading For Families

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book with a heart made by bending the pages

Reading… such a small act but can bring about such a tremendous result. Most homes children don’t have the privilege to be read to, reasons depending on the circumstances.

However the numbers are clear, reading to our children even as newborns and early infancy has a great impact of their ever growing brain therefore, their language and ability to communicate more effectively.

Study Findings

Not only does reading have a impact on their cognitive ability, one study done at New York University School of Medicine linked reading to a child’s behavioral and emotional development.

It’s a truism in child development that the very young learn through relationships and back-and-forth interactions, including the interactions that occur when parents read to their children. A new study provides evidence of just how sustained an impact reading and playing with young children can have, shaping their social and emotional development in ways that go far beyond helping them learn language and early literacy skills. The parent-child-book moment even has the potential to help curb problem behaviors like aggression, hyperactivity and difficulty with attention, a new study has found.

(Klass, 2018)

Now it must be noted that it is not only reading itself that has this impact. Parents spending time with their child is extremely influential. Sitting down and taking the time to read gives way to parents bonding with their children. No matter how silly you feel reading in that funny voice or you ignore the pressure to get back to your to-do list. These moments in time mean the world to our kids.

 Even if circumstances deem that you are unable to have many or any books in your home, the library is a great resource. If you are stuck on what books to start with, take a gander at 25 Books to Read to Your Kids, this is the infant to preschool edition. A book list for older kids is coming soon, so check back.

Another great resource is your own brain; make up stories.

You won’t have the pictures but we all have our imaginations. Your child will enjoy hearing your voice, you speaking to them and perhaps make the time more special if the wondrous stories come from you.

Don’t get dismayed if you haven’t started reading regularly or haven’t had the means to do so. Small steps toward a goal make a big difference. If you can only manage one story at bedtime then it is enough.

Even if you only have one or two books available, it is not as bad as you think. While more books gives variety, reading the same book over and over has advantages for the children’s development. Reading the same story repeatedly allows your child to become more familiar and more comfortable with a greater range of words.

Another benefit is that the repetition gives our kids time to detect patterns and rhythms within the book. Helping them break down and figure our language

Relationship is key

 Your children see the effort you make when you make time for them and the most important tool we have as parents is our relationship we develop with our children.

When we take the time with them when they are little and as they continue to grow to that crazy stage before adulthood, they will feel safe to come to us with more important matters, some that we hope they will confide in us as we help them navigate that confusion time in their lives.

Books can also become a life line for your children, a place to escape to giving them a chance to discover new worlds outside our own. Learn something great about ours.

Expansion of knowledge

Reading allows our children to expand their knowledge and imagination. Open their minds to think of other cultures and be more accepting of those different from them.

One example is Ben Carson, he grew up in what we would call unfavorable circumstances but came to rise out of it because his mother made reading a priority for him and his brother. Link found out the end of this post.

 Knowledge gives us power, keeps our minds sharp so we come across truths in the world we can recognize it for what it is and apply it to our lives to make our lives better, to have a happier life. In the end don’t we want that for ourselves and our children?

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Related Post(s): 25 Books to Read To Your Kids: Infant to Preschool

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