As your child’s first and primary teacher, reading together is one of the most significant activities we can do with and for our children. Despite the fast paced days that life can bring, setting aside time daily to engage in reading can have powerful benefits that last a lifetime. While reading to your child, the benefits are far reaching. Using intentional questions about the story will help children engage and promote social emotional learning in a safe environment.
Some of the many benefits of reading to your child include;
Children’s literature provides a safe way of exploring strong emotions. Focus on using specific language when describing emotions the characters might be experiencing. This reinforces positive ways of expressing feelings and teaches children the language to do so.
In addition to the social-emotional benefits of reading, this daily practice strengthens cognition, increases attention span, and greatly increases a child’s vocabulary. This vocabulary builder also helps children with academic tasks and aids in being successful in kindergarten and beyond.
Read more about the ‘million word gap’ here:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190404074947.html/
Lastly, this special time should provide enjoyment for both the child and caregiver. Reading together creates memories and learning that will be time well spent. Sharing this special time together also promotes bonding and a sense of calm and peace in the home.
Check out reneecaballero.com for more resources and a link to purchase your copy of Four Square Friends, a heartfelt story showing kids how to use their voice to solve problems.
You got this!
Renee Caballero