How Do Bedtime Stories Help A Child’s Brain Develop
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In the first few years of a child’s life, the neurons in their brains are hyperactive and learn almost everything happening in and around them. This is the best age for parents and caregivers to instill the best habits in their kids so they can carry these habits throughout their life. One of the activities that experts recommend parents to take up is storybook reading. Reading to your child, regardless of age, will enhance their brain development, strengthen your relationship, and teach them various lifelong skills. In the long term, establishing a night book-reading practice will do marvels for your children. Here are a few reasons why you should make storybook time a part of your children’s nighttime routine. Read on!
1. Reading Inculcates Patience In Kids
Reading a book can help your little one develop patience. Being patient is an important life skill that many individuals may lack. Thankfully, these skills may be taught to our children early, as even listening to stories makes infants more tolerant. In addition, the development of patience improves your child’s listening, and the two go hand in hand. In the coming, your child will be an attentive listener who makes others feel appreciated. So if you have been worried lately because your child doesn’t seem to sit at a place for more than a few seconds, this is probably how to make the ball drop in your court.
2. It Improves Your Child’s Vocabulary
Reading is beneficial not just for big kids but also for infants. The research found that toddlers who were told bedtime stories had begun to understand more words than those who were not. The results revealed that the children’s receptive vocabulary rose by 40%, compared to just 16% in the control group (1).
3. It Enhances Their Creativity
Reading broadens our imagination. Therefore it seems sensible that it would stimulate your child’s imagination. The more we read aloud to young children, the simpler it is for them to see the words and tales in their brains. This ongoing training of the brain promotes a child’s imagination, creativity, and receptivity to new ideas. Even if your children want to read the same book repeatedly, it means that they understand the story and take an interest in the activities going on in the book.
4. It Teaches Kids To Be More Compassionate
You may not think reading and empathy go so well together, but they do, and this crucial life ability can be imparted to your child from an early age. Children can perceive and feel the story from the character’s perspective when they read or hear it themselves. Thus, kids may comprehend what is happening to the characters, experience their circumstances, and understand their emotions. You may even ask them questions about who is their favorite character in the book, and they will take a keen interest in answering you.
5. It Enhances Communication Skills
Reading enhances a child’s engagement and communication skills. So it is really very positive that kids keep interrupting you when you read them a tale. Respond to their questions, clarify things, and draw parallels between what’s occurring in the narrative you’re reading and your own life. Ask them how the characters would feel or what might happen, and this will engage their interest.
6. It Teaches Children To Concentrate
Children, especially toddlers, are often distracted. Thus, reading to them may teach them attentiveness and the capacity to focus. They must listen attentively and remain seated to grasp the narrative, which may cause fewer tantrums. Additionally, this results in improved reading comprehension, self-discipline, attention span, and memory retention. These abilities will serve your children well in school and as adults.
7. Reading To Your Child Instills A Love Of Literature
Introducing your children to reading at an early age helps them gradually develop a love for books. Even as they age, children exposed to new kinds of books are now more likely to select them over video games, television, and other types of entertainment.
Not every person grows up to be a voracious reader; however, inculcating healthy reading habits in children will ensure they grow up with an inclination for reading on their own. This will add a skill set to their life and help them express themselves better at writing. As your kids grow up, make sure you discuss their favorite books and help them analyze the characters. Listen to their views and then add your opinion about the book. This will help them be more confident and develop strong communication skills. So, what was your favorite book as a child? Let us know in the comments section!
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