Books +Time =Happiness
Reading to your child is such an integral part of their development. The benefits and educational opportunities this encourages are endless! Starting to do this at infancy or even pre-natal is often recommended by experts. Continuing to do this throughout a child's life also has many benefits.
According to National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAAEYC), reading to a young child is important for several reasons:
- It builds your relationship with the child- There’s always something to talk about—the characters, the action, how it makes you feel and why. And all the language you share in conversation is an amazing learning experience for the child
- It teaches rhythm- Children need exposure to the rhythm of language. What better way to teach it than with a silly book like Who Stole the Cookies From the Cookie Jar?
- It teaches rhyme- another essential skill when learning to read. Read nursery rhymes aloud and repeat them often with your child. “Little Boy Blue” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb” should be on your reading list as well as other old favorites.
- It strengthens focus and attention span- If you say, “My 3-year-old won’t sit and listen to a book,” try a wordless book with bright, colorful photos that interest her (e.g., dogs, trucks, butterflies). Focused attention is a necessary skill for later learning.
- It teaches new vocabulary- When you read books like Is Your Mama a Llama?, by Deborah Guarino, animal names and their babies’ names become a natural part of the conversation. Did you know a baby llama is called a cria? Your 3-year-old may even recognize the names of some animals when your play group visits the zoo.
For more information about the benefits of reading to young children, please visit: http://families.naeyc.org/learning-and-development/reading-writing/books-plus-time-equals-happiness#sthash.nCjugrXC.dpuf
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