7 Ways Reading Helps Kids Grow and Mature
Parents are always encouraged to read to their children from a young age — and for good reason. Reading can be stimulating, not just for toddlers and school-age kids, but for newborn babies, too. In fact, research from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that reading is essential for building life-long skills and cognitive function starting from a young age. Parents, teachers, and caregivers can give children the skills to grow and mature by simply sitting down and sharing in storytime together. The long-term implications of how reading helps kids are important to understand. Here are seven ways this special time can help your child both now and down the road.
They Learn Language Skills
Reading teaches children language skills, even before they’re born. In utero, babies begin learning the sounds of the people around them. As you read to them, babies find comfort in your voice. They also begin learning new sounds, rhythms, grammar, and sentence structure. Books teach them new words and how to use words to tell stories. The act of reading develops their familiarity with your spoken language or languages. And it even helps them connect images to words. As you connect over a book, you provide a foundation for a lifetime of interacting with the world around them.
They Develop Social Skills
Reading helps kids develop their social skills. For example, even toddlers’ books have story arcs that deal with a conflict of some kind. Through the power of stories, kids learn how others deal with relationships of all kinds. They begin to see how other people use words and actions to build their relationships. Reading is also known to bring people together. Whether it’s a parent and their child, a classroom full of kids, or storytime at the library, when a child comes together with others to share a story, it builds connection.
It Helps Them Focus
Studies have shown that focus and concentration can lead to greater academic success. And it’s reading to kids that helps boost that focus. Books draw kids in, allowing them to concentrate on the story and its characters. As they engage with a book, they visualize what’s happening on the pages. They also learn to quickly process the story and images. Plus, as they learn about new things, it’s helping their brains develop and strengthen. This increased neuroplasticity allows them to concentrate for longer periods of time.
It Increases Their Creativity
Books introduce kids to any number of characters. Whether the main characters are monsters or eggs or crayons or kids that look like them, reading helps them imagine even inanimate objects as real characters. It stimulates the right side of the brain, which helps people solve problems faster. It also provides a spark that helps them develop more creative ideas and a rich inner life. Creativity and imagination even help kids create memories. Reading is also great for developing essential skills that will keep their brains healthy as they age.
They Develop Empathy
As you read to a child, stories introduce them to new perspectives they may not have on their own. Suddenly, they begin to see the world through somebody else’s eyes. As they see what others experience, it teaches them to build a moral code. It even helps kids better connect with those different from them. In short, it’s building empathy. As kids get older, empathy encourages them to get involved. And it helps build kindness and compassion into them, guiding them through their adult life.
It Builds Their Vocabulary
Research shows that by the age of four, children know around 1,500 words. Reading can help expand that vocabulary. Books often teach kids silly, made-up words like, “fizzbungle,” “woozles,” and “fuddle,” enhancing their creativity. Books teach rhymes, words with multiple meanings, and completely new words. They also teach kids how to describe the world around them. Whether it’s describing a character, using onomatopoeia to mimic a sound, or connecting a word with an image, reading illustrates those concepts.
It Helps Them Understand Their World
If you prioritize reading books about different parts of the world, it opens your child’s mind to different cities or countries. It can help them understand different types of families. And it can introduce them to new cultures unlike their own. Books can be eye-opening as kids suddenly realize people have diverse backgrounds and beliefs. With a broader view of the world, it teaches them to be more inclusive and understanding of others. It can also help them find themselves in a book’s character, which leads to greater self-acceptance.
You Can Ensure Their Education Continues Their Growth
If you’re already concerned about how reading helps kids grow and mature, it’s time to start thinking about their education, too. That’s where PALS Praise & Leadership Schools can help. At PALS, children receive an educational foundation that will last well into adulthood. And reading is just one part of that foundation. We’ve designed a curriculum to empower your child. It nurtures confidence, self-esteem, essential skills, and strong moral character. We also focus on developing critical thinking, responsibility, achievement, and effective communication. It’s all to prepare them for success now and in the future.
Experience the difference at PALS Praise & Leadership Schools. Visit our two campuses in Peoria IL and see first-hand how we inspire young minds. Our North Peoria campus at 2327 W Willow Knolls Rd can be reached at 309-691-4326, while our Downtown location at 700 NE Greenleaf is available at 309-674-2938. Schedule a tour today and discover a learning environment where your child can truly thrive.
