What is the importance of reading to a child from a young age? From the moment I was born, my mother would do two significant things that have helped develop my learning ability. She would sing, and she would read to me! But just how important they were, I will explain as you read on.
Having taught in various schools and age groups, I have seen vast differences in children’s ability to learn between children with parents who have read to them from young, compared to children whose parents have not. And before any parenting styles are attacked, let us remember that all parents’ lives are vastly different, and not everyone has equal opportunities in life. Some parents may struggle financially, where purchasing books may be out of reach. Some parents may be split or time-poor, working hard and long hours to pay bills, and some parents may have intellectual disabilities themselves and do not possess the skills to read. Whatever the reason, the more we can emphasise the importance of reading by first understanding the importance of reading and listening to reading, the better we can improve that generational cycle and be able to read and learn.
An article by raisingchildren.net offers terrific information as to how telling stories and reading to children benefit them, with some key points being:
- help your child get to know sounds, words and language, and develop early literacy skills
- spark your child’s imagination and stimulate curiosity
- help develop your child’s brain, ability to focus, concentration, social skills and communication skills
From my perspective of sensory learning and brain training, here is my understanding of the importance of reading (and other forms of communication) to children from a young age.
To begin with, let us look at what singing, reading, telling stories, or simply talking to a child does sensorily. All these forms of communication are an auditory sense focus. And we must remember the chain of language learning. Before we can write, we must read. Before we can read, we must speak. Finally, before we can speak, we must know how to listen.
Communicating with a child from birth in any form helps develop that child’s auditory sense by the child listening. As that child grows, their strong listening ability will progress into a robust oral language ability, and so on. Furthermore, being able to listen well will lead to a development in imagination, which is your internal visual sense. A solid internal visual sense leads to imaginative creativity and visual memory. Therefore, communicating with a child in an auditory manner leads to both an auditory and a visual sensory boost. Children who have been given this chance in life are often months to years ahead of children who unfortunately do not.
Additionally, stories can help develop outstanding morals. My mother often read Disney books to me where good overcomes evil, and I like to think I turned out ok…
Finally, people who have an auditory sense strength tend to have the following characteristics:
- Great at sequencing and doing things in order
- Able to manage time effectively and be very timely
- Fantastic listeners, speakers and communicators in multiple forms
- Tend to be strong in mathematics, as math skills often involve following sequences
Parents, if you have the capacity to give your children a solid start to life, START NOW! Sing, read, or even tell stories with great morals. Every minute you give to your child helps them develop and gives them every opportunity to succeed to the best of their abilities.
Read here to learn about visual reading.
Sincerely,
Educationalist
