The importance of reading to children

Children love to learn they are like sponges obsorbing everything around them. Books offer children a world of opportunities for learning.

Faith Draper

Over the years there have been many studies on the importance of reading to children. The results being there are many benefits to children, families, and the community when children are read to at even an early age.

Reading to children develops a bond between parents and children. In today’s fast paced society too often special time with children gets pushed aside for jobs, socializing, and other activities. Allocating time during the day for reading to children lets the child know they are important in their parent’s busy lives and helps to open lines of communication between parent and child.

By reading to children they look at reading in a positive way which fosters a love of reading and learning the child will carry with them through adulthood. Even sharing picture books with a one year old or younger will start this learning growth. Reading to children can be a major factor in their future learning experience.

The East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) offers a children’s story time called “Spring Baby Time”. This is for babies under the age of two and is currently being offered twice a week to help parents both share bonded reading time with their child and start the joy of reading at a young age. You can find location and library hours at the end of this article or you can check the ‘Spring Baby Time’ scheduled times online here.

As you share books with children their imaginations are sparked with seeing and hearing new experiences through the book. Reading to children helps to inspire them to learn about different areas of the world, topics, and learn to share their thoughts and feelings at the same time.

According to Allan N. Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. “Children have creative minds and they are very liable to elaborate on the story, insert their own story line and become very imaginative: It is important that this not be discouraged.”

If you do not currently read to your child please start doing it now. The benefits of reading to your child or children may not be evident right off, it is a slow process but for their future it is important that you start as soon as possible and make reading a regular part of your routine. While spending quality time with your child you are developing their interest in learning, sparking their imagination, and helping to develop positive learning habits for the future.

"A house without books is like a room without windows." --Heinreich Mann (1871-1950)

East Lansing Public Library
Address:
950 Abbot Rd
East Lansing, MI 48823

Library Hours
Monday: 10AM - 9PM
Tuesday: 10AM - 9PM
Wednesday: 10AM - 9PM
Thursday: 10AM - 9PM
Friday: 10AM - 6PM
Saturday: 10AM - 5:30PM
Sunday: 1PM - 5PM (Closed on Sundays from Memorial Day until Labor Day)