Is reading a bedtime story part of your nightly routine? If so, what is your child’s favorite book? If not, consider adding it in! There are several reasons why reading before bed can benefit your child (and you!).
Reading before bed encourages the love of reading. Children establish a love for reading when they are read to. When children are introduced to books early on, they start to identify them as sources of fun and adventure. Later in life, they begin to realize that books are also full of knowledge.
Reading develops communication and language skills. When you read stories to your children, you’re also helping them develop their communication skills, listening abilities, and memory. The more books you read, the more you strengthen their vocabulary and understanding of sentence structure.
Reading to your child improves their attention. As you read out loud, kids try to imagine the scenes in their minds, forcing them to pay attention. Reading stories to your children invites engagement. As you read along and the story unfolds, you will find them agreeing or disagreeing with the storyline. They become involved in the plot and want to chime in with their opinions and objections.
Reading prepares them to be better students in school. According to PBS.org, “the more words that are in a child’s language world, the more words they will learn, and the stronger their language skills are when they reach kindergarten, the more prepared they are to be able to read, and the better they read, the more likely they will graduate from high school”.
Reading before bed promotes better sleep. When you read to your kids before bedtime, the bonding established through reading and engaging creates a comforting feeling that promotes better sleep.
