Discover The Many Benefits Of Reading To Infants And Teaching Them To Love Books

By Karina Frost


Reading with one's child, no matter how young he or she is, is a true example of quality time. It helps build a close parent/child relationship and stimulates the baby's emotional and intellectual growth in a variety of ways. When parents recognize these benefits of reading to infants, they should make a point of incorporating this activity into their baby's day.

Reading aloud to a baby as soon as he or she is born is a great ritual to incorporate into the child's routine. This important time spent in the close company of the parent serves as an ideal opportunity for bonding and intimacy to develop. The child has the full attention of mom or dad and will grow to look forward to snuggling up for a story every day.

Hearing words, even before the child is old enough to understand what they mean, plays a key role in vocabulary development. When babies hear a word, they are likely filing it away for later use, and they are also picking up other elements of speech like rhythm, inflections, and tone. Early introduction of sound and words has a direct correlation to later interest in reading independently.

In addition to boosting a young child's rudimentary language skills, it has also been connected to stimulating their critical thinking and mathematical skills. Children who are read to often from infancy on, have been shown to speak earlier and have a better grasp of linguistic concepts than those who are seldom read to. Eventually, as the baby gains an understanding of the sounds and pictures, he or she will begin to respond with interest and excitement.

Listening to a book being read is a good way for babies to begin to understand what emotions are as well, as there hear about the feelings story characters have relating to their experiences. This can effectively help materialize this abstract concept for young listeners. The visual aspects of a book such as letters, shapes, patterns, and colors, are also beneficial to the baby's sensory and cognitive development.

Although enjoying a story anytime through the day is good, it can be particularly helpful right before the child's bedtime. The sound of mom's or dad's voice is often conducive to a peaceful night's sleep for the little one, many young children even drift off before the story is finished because they feel so relaxed and secure, and it is the perfect way to calm down following a busy day.

Choosing appropriate books for the baby's age is important. There should be plenty of colorful pictures, simple verses that rhyme, and possibly textures, those which familiarize children with a variety of objects are good choices. Since babies can be rough with books, they should be made of a relatively indestructible material such as cloth or vinyl.

Older babies will start to play a more active role in their own storytime as they begin to recognize pictures and sounds. They will point out and name objects, imitate sounds, and show a definite response to what they are hearing. These early literary experiences are essential for instilling a love of books and reading that can last for a lifetime.




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