Last month, Spring into Storytime was celebrated in libraries across Ireland. Various events have been organized to encourage parents to read to their children more. Then last week on Thursday April 28th was Poetry Day. This was a day to celebrate poetry, with readings and talks at various venues and online. A bit of literary culture for all of us.
However, the Spring into Storytime initiative caught my attention and I regret not having taken it up sooner. Not that my youngest, 17, was happy to hear me read to him, but it was certainly a nostalgic throwback to all the days and nights that my wife and I read to all of our children separately. I can still recite a few books, like the very Hungry Caterpillar and We go bear huntingso often they were read aloud.
The more I see phones and tablets in the hands of toddlers, the more I fear the joy and benefits of reading to children are being lost. Research confirms these benefits; A study shows, for example, that children who are regularly read to between birth and the age of 5 have about 1.4 million more words by the time they enter kindergarten than children who are not read to.
Two other studies show that babies and toddlers who are read to and spoken to perform better in language and cognitive development (such as problem solving) and that this association extends through childhood into adolescence. Increased verbal interactions (such as reading to a child) appear to boost language and IQ scores at significant levels up to age 14.
In addition to supporting children’s cognitive development, reading aloud also encourages the building of positive relationships between parents and children. Sitting down with young children to read them a story helps them slow down, focus, and connect with the adult. Some research shows that children feel more secure when they are read to regularly. Reading to a child encourages listening and has been linked to improved attention span.
Reading can help them develop their imaginations in ways that screen-based media cannot. While many baby and toddler books are rich in illustrations and few words, the child still needs to make up their own mind about the story, even when stimulated by static images. As children get older, the books you might read to them will be filled with descriptions that help them create the scene in their own imagination.
Reading to children, even older children, can inspire a love of reading and books that will last a lifetime. The act of reading shows that parents see the value of books and reading. The parents’ positivity and the likely associations of comfort and nurturing during a shared reading session mean that books can always be a source of positivity for this growing child.
As children grow older, parents can choose stories that share valuable messages or address topics they would like to discuss with their child. The way characters in books deal with situations can be a learning opportunity for children or the starting point for broader discussion after story time.
If you have never read to your child, you can start at any time. They don’t need an apology, and all it requires is that you have a book they might enjoy. It can take time for children to adjust to being read to, especially if they are already used to screens and technology to keep them entertained. For example, a newborn toddler may only be a few minutes before needing to move, as stopping and concentrating may be a challenge. But I would advise you to stick with it.
It helps ensure you give the process enough time instead of feeling rushed or rushed into your day. Don’t be put off if your child wants to repeat the same stories day after day. The repetition and consistency can be very helpful to them. The goal is to make the story enjoyable and relaxing.
Bedtime stories are especially useful for ending the day and helping kids get ready for sleep. While you can’t read to a child in the car, you might want to download audiobooks for them and use them as a form of entertainment rather than give them a phone or tablet to keep them occupied during a long drive. When our kids were little we certainly relied on audio books to get us through the trips to Dublin.
Parents may worry about their own literacy skills and may be reluctant to read aloud (for some parents, reading aloud can bring up difficult memories of being embarrassed at school). I would still encourage you to give it a try. No child will expect a Stephen Fry-esque rendition of the story (his readings of the Harry Potter audio book series are excellent) and I’m confident your child will appreciate your efforts.
