Everyone says that reading is important. Libraries, schools, and teachers emphasize reading as part of classroom education for children. It is better for children to read books than to watch TV or play video games. But why should you encourage it? Here are some of the benefits of reading and why it’s important to your child.
Promotes language learning.
Reading is one of the best ways to learn a language. Children learn by exposition, and when they see correct grammar, punctuation, and word usage in stories and other written forms, they learn without trying to learn. They don’t necessarily have to study the rules of grammar if they have seen enough examples in the books they love.
Increase vocabulary skills.
How many times have you read a word in a book and gone to look it up in a dictionary? If you’re like a lot of people, probably not too many times. Instead, you probably understood the meaning of the word based on the context in which it was found.
The children do the same. And because their brains are in a state of tremendous growth and development, they are more likely to absorb what they read and understand it intuitively, without having things explained to them.
Summer reading programs for kids aren’t just silly, either. Researchers at John Hopkins University found that the learning difference between children from different socioeconomic classes was not very great during the school year. But during the summer, disadvantaged youth did not read as much and experienced a greater “summer slide,” a loss of knowledge and skills during the holidays.
Having access to books and reading helped reduce that gap, so that the chances of poorer children falling further and further behind as they got older diminished. Libraries are a great leveling tool; everyone can access many books and reading material, free of charge.
helps you make money
A 2003 study of adult literacy by the National Center for Education Statistics found that adults with low literacy levels were three times more likely to be below the poverty level than adults who could read well. Think about it: If you can’t read English fluently, you’ll have trouble with job applications, memos, instruction booklets, tax forms, and all sorts of other things you’ll encounter in your adult life.
Getting children interested in reading from a young age sets the stage for greater achievement and learning for decades to come. It is no exaggeration to say that reading as a child can change the course of a child’s life and affect her learning and earning potential.
If you have a small one, start by reading stories to him. If your child is older, find material that they enjoy, no matter what the subject. The explosion of graphic novels on the market today means that there are books that will grab any child’s attention and get them reading. These are just some of the benefits of reading, but it’s clear that reading is important to your child’s future success in life. Help your child get off to a good start by encouraging him to read.