Reading Creates a Special Bond Between Parents and Their Children
In uncertain times like this, during the current COVID-19 crisis, we want to encourage and empower parents to read to their children.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, reading significantly helps brain development and encourages a strong, emotional bond between parents and their children. Therefore, it is vitally important to nurture family reading habits at home.
“Children are made readers on the laps of their parents” - Emilie Buchwald
Research by Harvard University found that in the early years, more than 1 million new neural connections are formed every second. Nourishing and stimulating a child’s mind in the first years of life is just as essential as feeding their body. It shapes the adults they become, the success they achieve, and the contributions they can make to our economy and society.
Reading as early as possible is the most vital skill for children to thrive in their learning. If children are read to in their foundational years, they are more likely to achieve higher educational outcomes and fulfill their dreams later in life. Reading stories also stimulates your children’s imagination and helps them learn more about the world around them.
Tips to get you started:
One way to engage young children when reading books together is to ask them questions like:
- Look at the cover. What do you think this book might be about?
- What is happening in the pictures?
- What do you think is going to happen next?
- What was your favourite part of this story?
By asking these questions, children will familiarise themselves with sounds, words, language, print and, ultimately, the value and joy of books. This builds your children’s early literacy skills and helps them go on to read successfully.
Remember, reading together creates valuable bonding time with your kids. So, make sure you create a regular reading routine with your children today!
To help them in their reading journey, ROOP has created an early childhood toolkit to get them started.