Reading is one of the most important skills in life, even with the vast improvement in technology it is still an essential skill. The earlier children become excited about reading the better reader they will become. Reading has also been shown to improve cognitive and creative skills; in particular children who read have better imaginations. This has been linked with an ability to think laterally and overcome obstacles that others are unable to. There are many other reasons why it is important to read aloud to your children from when they are young:
- Reading is fun
Listening to a story is fun! This is particularly true when the reader enjoys the story and shows their passion for reading. This enjoyment will translate into a vivid imagination as figures from stories are recreated and built upon. If you read with passion then your children will learn the power of expression both in the written word and in the world around them. Expressive children are better at adapting to different situations and coping with difficult situations.
- Understand Story Structure
When stories are read out loud, kids interact with the characters, setting and plot; especially if the teacher thinks aloud as the story is read. The reader uses the tone of his or her voice to entice listeners, and thus kids become more interested in what’s happening next. This is an excellent way of grabbing kids’ attention, and making them want to read and want to discover how wonderful the world of books and stories can be.
- Build Vocabulary
Reading is one of the most effective ways of expanding your vocabulary; this is true whether you are young or old. Reading aloud also allows your children to understand more complex sentence structures; this is imperative to improving their understanding of any language. The more sentences, vocabulary and structures which are known to a child the easier it will be for them to read independently. This knowledge extends to the world around you as children will be eager to use their new vocabulary and sentences. It is therefore essential to help your children learn new words and phrases every day.
- Expose to Genres
Reading aloud to kids can bring a wide variety of genres to their attention. This is essential for the normal development of any child. It is much easier to read a genre if a child has already been exposed to the genre. Reading different types of books to your children will also encourage them to write on a variety of topics; this will make it more likely that they find a style of reading and writing which they enjoy.
- Build Attention Span
There are a huge amount of distractions available in everyday life; the TV and the computer are two of the biggest. These objects generally shorten a child’s attention span where as sitting and listening to a book, which is read with passion, will hold their attention. This will automatically increase their attention span; they will learn to enjoy the slower pace of a story and that all tales have a journey to be told; a beginning, middle and an end.
- Develop Mental Skills
Reading to children is one of the best ways to improve their mental abilities. Being read to will encourage them to use their imagination and create images of the events being told. This will naturally lead to analysis the material being read and understanding it. It can also help a child to develop an understanding of right and wrong. Research has also shown that those who are attempting to learn a second language can benefit greatly from being read to. This can prove to be an excellent tool for any child attempting to learn a second language. All countries have a standard of literacy which is expected from children of different ages. Reading aloud to your child will help them to reach these standards and develop a love of reading. This makes anything possible! Author Bio: Edward Francis is a tech writer basically and he loves reading books. His favorite hobby is to read eBooks and he prefers http://www.lovereading.co.uk/ to get a variety of books at the same place.
