Reading is the foundation of formal education. It’s a useful tool for learning and developing communication skills. The benefits of reading can be enjoyed by everyone.
However, children tend to gain the most from learning to read at a young age. Children who show an interest in reading from an early stage tend to grow into intelligent individuals with incredible cognitive skills.
Not only do books for kids open their minds to new ideas, but it also helps them gain empathy and a deeper understanding of the people around them.
Here are some other reasons why your child has a lot to gain from learning to read at a young age.
- It promotes creativity in children
Picture books are a healthy form of entertainment for kids as they aid understanding through pictures. Still, nothing beats the joy of a child when he or she finally makes sense of the words within and can piece together the reasons for the character’s actions.
With the ability to read, comes a boost in imagination. Children who read at a young age embrace their creativity and are always excited to follow a story. They engage in the story and begin to recreate the world the characters live in, as their reality.
- It improves language skills
When you speak to your child, you probably use the same words over and over again. Your use of a limited vocabulary is understandable as your goal is not to confuse the child. Interestingly, children can amass extensive vocabulary, and reading is a useful tool to help them achieve this.
Books expose your child to a variety of words and phrases, different from what they hear in their daily interactions. This way, their language skills, and fluency develop at a faster rate.
- It creates a love for learning
Reading taps into the innate curiosity of children. The information in books cuts across cultures and languages and when children are exposed to this knowledge, they gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.
This can lead them to ask questions and develop an interest in gaining more knowledge, thus encouraging them to read more.
- It improves concentration
Your toddler may be more interested in flipping through pages or crawling off to play while you’re trying to read to them. Still, with constant practice, and as he or she begins to identify with the pictures and words in the books, they’ll learn to concentrate more.
Their interest in reading will encourage them to sit still and pay attention. This ability to concentrate would be extremely beneficial when your child is at school.
- It enhances maturity and self-confidence
A child who learns to read at a young age will gain a deeper understanding of the world and different topics. This knowledge can be a great confidence boost. It also places your child at an advantage over his or her peers as such a child would develop enhanced cognitive skills.
When a child can think critically and develop solutions to problems, he or she will mature more quickly.