Why Does Your Child Need To Read Every Day? 

Reading is a great habit for people of all age groups as it has many amazing benefits, but it is even more important for children. Reading helps children to expand their vocabulary, stimulates their imagination, enhances their cognitive development, and increases their attention span. To make this a habit for your children, it is necessary to make it a part of their everyday routine. The benefits of reading are endless, but here are some reasons you should incorporate reading into your child’s daily routine.

Language and vocabulary:

Reading is one of the best ways to learn a language. It allows children to encounter new words and expand their vocabulary. They also learn how to make proper sentences and express themselves clearly. Their articulation improves greatly, and they become aware of the structure of the language without getting bored. While reading, children become curious about new words and become fascinated with them. They try to understand the meaning and use the new words they learn in their daily conversations.

Source of Information:

Books are the best source of information for children. Reading stories, different kinds of literature, and reading children’s books on targeted subjects will provide them with a credible source of information and increase their knowledge. Children who read are also able to perform better in school. Regular reading helps children learn about different cultures, traditions, and places. It increases their exposure, and their understanding of the world becomes better.

Cognitive Development:

Studies have proven that reading affects the cognitive development of children. When children read regularly, they are able to make sense of the world they live in and sharpen their intelligence. It increases their problem-solving skills and boosts their confidence. Consider it as a brain exercise for your child. It is best to make it a regular daily practice to keep the mind active.

Instils Empathy:

Did you know that children who read also tend to be more empathetic? When kids read stories, they come in contact with a world they were unaware of. They are exposed to different kinds of situations and circumstances and realize that there is a world beyond the comfort of their homes. They experience the lives of several different characters, and it instills a sense of empathy in them. They relate to some of the characters, feel sorrow for others, and feel the joy that the characters are feeling. It develops higher emotional intelligence in kids, and they become more sensitive and empathetic.

Improves Focus:

Reading requires patience and focus. The more children get into a habit of reading, the more their attention span increases. Reading for even a few minutes daily will improve children’s ability to concentrate. Children mostly have a short attention span, and with the advancement in technology, it is becoming even more difficult to keep their attention focused on one thing. Try to remove the distractions as much as possible and encourage your child to read with full concentration for at least a few minutes daily.

Increases creativity:

Reading helps children become creative. It excites their imagination and widens their lens. They are exposed to endless new possibilities and learn to think outside the box. Children are highly imaginative and curious. They especially love fantasy and like to see things from different perspectives. But if reading becomes a burden, their curiosity soon vanishes. Try to make reading a joyful activity for your child and let it enhance their imagination. When children read, their creative expression becomes better. For example, to become a good writer, one must be a good reader first. Children’s minds are stimulated through reading, and they become more creative and innovative.

Quality time:

Reading is a healthy activity for children. If they read alone, they will learn to spend quality time with themselves, and it will introduce them to the joy of solitude. They will learn to enjoy their own company. However, if you decide to read with your child, this will allow you to strengthen your bond with them. Just because you spend endless hours with your child does not necessarily mean you are spending quality time with them. Let reading time be an opportunity to connect with your child and improve their emotional well-being.

How to encourage your child to develop a reading habit?

Now that we have established the importance of reading for children, let’s look at some of the ways that can help your child develop this wonderful habit.

Give importance to the child’s interests:

Reading syllabus books is absolutely necessary for children, but if you want to inculcate the love of reading in them, reading school books is not enough. Discuss your child’s interests and get age-appropriate books that your child will actually enjoy reading. Different children have different interests. Some like story books and fantasy, while others are more into nature, geography, animals, and birds. It is important to let your child explore their interests instead of forcing them to read books that they do not find enjoyable or interesting.

Be consistent:

Try to be consistent and make it a part of your child’s everyday routine. Fix a time for reading so your child is mentally prepared and is already expecting or looking forward to their reading time. It takes approximately 21 days to develop a habit, and doing this practice regularly, even for a few weeks, can help you get into this routine. It is not necessary to read for hours. Even a few minutes of reading daily can be beneficial for your child.

Conclusion:

It is important that you make reading an enjoyable activity for your children. Be patient with them, and do not be frustrated if you struggle to make them sit down with their books. Let them do it at their own pace, with their own will. If you force them and make it look like a chore, they will soon lose interest, which beats the purpose. Let them choose, and that’s the only way you can help them develop a love for reading.