Reading to your child is one of the best ways to support them in their learning journey. It allows parents to become active participants in their child’s education, creates memories that they will cherish forever, and introduces our next generation to an exciting range of literacy concepts, all while having a wonderful time!
In this article, the team at Magic Words explores why it is so important to start reading to your child.
Reading to Your Child Improves Language Development
Reading to, and with, your child is one of the most important strategies when beginning to learn to read. Not only does reading aloud help them better identify and recognize the different words and sounds within a story, but it also provides a dramatic element that draws their attention to narrative conventions, such as different plots, characters, grammar, punctuation, and expression. By modelling oral language (how new words are used, by reading in context), we are providing children with a valuable experience that will benefit them greatly as they learn to read independently. Reading to your child provides an immersive experience, which can address a variety of concepts at once, all in a fun and engaging way.
Support Social & Emotional Growth by Reading to Your Child
Literature conveys meanings and messages for readers of all ages. For a child first learning how to read, the ability to discover more about themselves, their feelings and those of others, and how the world around them works, is one of the greatest opportunities and parent can provide. The greater amount of time spent reading to your child, the greater their exposure to different scenarios, whether real or imagined, which allows them to make connections between these stories and their own lives. They are then able to continue to add meaning to a story with their own emotions and opinions.
The rich use of language in stories and the way we express them verbally will teach your child to assign meaning behind these words, and be then used to explain their own feelings. For example, a child with a broader vocabulary will make connections between words like ‘sad’ and ‘melancholy’ or ‘happy’ and ‘delighted,’ helping them to express themselves in different ways. As you teach your child to read, you are actively helping them grow as an individual who can communicate effectively with those around them.
Teach Your Child to Read at Home
When you teach your child to read at home, the quality of the experience is one of the most important parts of your child’s literacy development. Studies have shown that a child’s ability to read has related to their families’ beliefs and attitudes towards reading, as well as how well they engage in conversation at home and whether they have access to appropriate reading materials and resources. Educating yourself as a parent on the best ways to teach your child to read at home, or changing the way you yourself engage with reading, will help build an environment where reading is seen as a valuable activity. With greater engagement and enthusiasm regarding developing reading skills, teaching your child to read can become an enjoyable part of your day, potentially even bringing you closer together as a family.
Have Fun Reading with Magic Words
At Magic Words, we provide families with access to fun and engaging resources that will help you teach your child to read at home. With a variety of games and packs available, our parent products are ideal for those looking to try something new and have fun while doing it! For more information, please contact us directly today.
