Importance and benefits of reading to children. Spending time reading aloud with children is a time to be treasured. Travel with them via books into wonderful lands of imagination and fantasy.
Most people with young children have heard the words "read me a story!" They come with those little picture books and become fascinated while disappearing into those worlds of fantasy.
Unfortunately, by the time the children outgrow those picture books, many parents stop reading aloud with them. We should remember that there are whole new worlds to explore in books even as the children grow older. There are chapter books filled with many new places to enjoy with the same imagination they had when younger.
Again rather unfortunately, the emergence of things like the internet and television has in some instances stolen the time that might be spent reading with children. Those are treasured times. Bonding times. And times to share a great adventure with the young people in our lives.
At what age should we stop reading with our children? A good answer to that question would be "as long as they'll possibly allow it, don't stop." It seems to often be the parent who stops doing this long before the child is ready to give it up.
In recent years, "quality time" has become quite the buzz phrase. What better quality time can be found than curling up with a child, no matter his or her age, and getting lost in a good book together? Grab some lemonade first in the summer and hot chocolate in winter, and plan a great evening of getting lost in a book!
There are, naturally, benefits that extend far beyond that very necessary time together. It will help the child develop a love of books and will expand knowledge and vocabulary. There are only pros to list and not a con to be found.
Some of us remember being read to only at bedtime, and then only until we reached a certain age. Reading aloud is not an enjoyment that magically stops at a particular age, usually, nor is it something just for bedtime.
When a love of books and the written word is instilled, children will adore going to the library and choosing their own reading material. When a parent feels the child is old enough to hold the responsibility, a library card in the child's name should be applied for.
At some point, you may want to ask the child to write his own story. You can bind papers together into book form and have him illustrate a book, or simple write, type, or dictate a story for you to write, depending on age.
It's not too late to start reading aloud again even if you've put it aside when the child put picture books away. Go to a library or book store and allow the child to choose a great chapter book or two. Then prepare for an hour or an evening of pure magic as you enter the world of fantasy with a child.
