When To Start Reading Stories To Children
Stories and books are irreplaceable resources when it comes to raising children, even before they acquire the ability to read. But, when should one start reading stories to children?
When children are around the age of six, they begin to develop reading skills – or even earlier. However, many parents ask themselves the question of when to start reading stories to their children.
What age do experts recommend children to have before starting to introduce children to reading? What are the benefits of promoting reading habits during early childhood? In the following article, we will answer these questions.
Keep in mind that the first step to acquiring knowledge and new learning is through reading. Therefore, it is considered a basic skill to promote a person’s cognitive development.
From the first years of our children’s lives, we can already start reading stories to them. In fact, it is important that we do! That way, we introduce our children to start reading progressively from a very early age. According to Antonio Manuel Trujillo García, the creation of children’s readers consists of three basic stages:
- The first stage begins as soon as the children are born, and lasts until the little ones begin to develop reading skills. During this stage, children still can not long, which means they need someone else to read stories to them.
- In the second stage, children acquire the skill of reading. At this point, they can read in the presence of others, which can help them better understand what they are reading.
- During the third stage, children are able to read with autonomy, without the help of others.
It is important for mothers and fathers to make sure that their children go through this process. Therefore, it is essential to create moments where one reads together as a family. For example, one can read a goodnight story to the kids in the evening.
It is also a good idea to have a wide range of stories and children’s books on hand. You should have these books somewhere in your home where your children can easily see and reach them. It will help stimulate their curiosity so that they start grabbing the books with their hands and examining them freely.
Characteristics you need to look for in order to find a good children’s book
When it comes to choosing good stories and children’s books, you need to make sure they possess most of these characteristics:
- Get words and short sentences.
- Simple vocabulary.
- Many attractive pictures and illustrations.
- Different textures.
- Few pages.
- Stories that children can relate to.
What are the benefits of promoting reading habits in your children?
The benefits of promoting reading habits in early childhood are innumerable. Below, we have listed a few of them:
- Reading promotes a child’s imagination and creativity.
- It benefits children’s cognitive autonomy and the ability to learn how to learn.
- It maximizes the development and refinement of the language.
- It helps to improve oral and written expressions.
- It increases the child’s vocabulary.
- It maximizes children’s ability to be alert and concentrated.
- It improves children’s memory.
Therefore, parents are responsible for making reading a part of their daily routine. But, to truly achieve the above benefits, it is not just important to promote reading when your children are young. Closer as they get older, children should observe how their parents read autonomously and enjoy doing so. This is because children look up to and imitate their parents.
Therefore, if children see that their parents enjoy reading, then they will be more likely to develop the same behavior. After all, it is not about forcing our children to read out of duty. Instead, it’s about teaching them that reading is a fun and attractive way to enjoy their free time.
