Why Reading To Your Preschool-Aged Child Is Important

As a parent, you want to do everything you can to help your child succeed. You may have heard that reading is one of the best things you can do for your preschooler. But why is reading so important?

Reading to children from birth lays the foundation for future success. You‘re raising a reader a few minutes a day from your lap! It’s one of the best things you can do to encourage a love of reading, and it has many other benefits as well.

Here are four reasons why reading to preschoolers is important:

1. Reading is an important part of early childhood development.

Reading helps children become familiar with new vocabulary, grasp basic ideas, and improve their comprehension.

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds in spoken language. It’s an important skill for beginning readers. When adults read aloud, children learn valuable reading habits that turn them into lifelong readers.

Fluency is the ability to read smoothly, accurately, and with expression. When children hear fluent reading, they learn how to “hear” the words on a page and are better able to understand what they read.

2. Reading to preschoolers helps with language development.

Children learn new words by hearing them repeated in context. Recent studies have shown that reading to preschoolers has a positive impact on healthy brain development. In stories, children learn to recognize words and understand concepts. This helps them develop important language skills. Reading also promotes imagination and critical thinking.

3. Reading teaches children about a big world. 

Books expose children to new ideas and experiences. They can learn about different cultures, times, and places. They can also learn about emotions, problem-solving, and how to relate to others. Reading to preschoolers helps them develop an understanding and appreciation for other cultures.

4. Reading together is fun!

Reading with children is a time to cuddle and laugh and enjoy each other. Sharing a book is a special activity that can help you bond with your child. When you read daily, it becomes an important part of the family routine. Stories open up a world of possibilities and adventure from cardboard to chapter books. Your children will love to hear your favorite stories!

When children see that reading is enjoyable, they are more likely to want to do it, too! So, plan a family book night, curl up with your little one and enjoy a good story today.

At Dairy Road Discovery Center we have a literature based curriculum that focuses on learning by doing. Contact us to learn more about our preschool programs.