The Benefits of Reading to Your Baby: From Stimulating the Mind to Building a Love of Books
By Betty Bassett
Is it ever too early to begin reading to your baby? Reading might not come as naturally to one mom as to another. Even if your baby is too little to interact when you are reading, rest assured that with each page turned, you are stimulating your baby's mind and fostering a love of reading that will last a lifetime.
How do you get started? What should you do? Just pick a time like maybe before bed or after lunch. Decide what works for your family then just make it into a ritual so that you baby can come to predict it, so that it becomes a pattern. Having predictability in life is very important. It allays anxiety and worry and it gives one a sense of control. That’s why it’s never too early to start reading to your baby. Reading time should be a loving time and nurturing time that your precious baby gets to spend with you. Infuse her or him with the softness and tenderness of your voice. Point out what you like or don’t like about the book or the story. Make up questions or ponderances that you might personally query about so that it can stimulate curiosity in your child. Point out the things you notice that might not have been apparent. It can be something different every time even when you are reading the same book over and over. The mind is a beautiful field. When you are reading to your baby you are teaching your baby to love reading. Maybe that is one of the most important things that you can teach your child.
Babies are naturally curious and love to listen to the sound of your voice. When you read to them, they are exposed to new words and sounds that they wouldn't otherwise hear in their daily routines. This exposure helps them to learn vocabulary and they can start to associate words with objects and actions.
Reading to your baby also helps to expand their imagination horizon. Children's books are often filled with vibrant illustrations and fantastical creatures, which help to ignite the imagination. When you read to your baby, you are opening up a world of possibilities and encouraging them to think beyond what they can see in front of them.
In addition to these benefits, reading to your baby is also a great bonding time for both you and your child. When you hold them and read together, you are showing your baby how much they mean to you. This special time spent together forges a strong emotional bond between you and your baby, which can last a lifetime.
As your baby grows, you can build upon the foundation you have laid through reading. You can choose books with more complex plots and encourage your child to engage by asking questions and having them point out things they see in the illustrations.
Visiting the library and choosing books can be a fun activity that allows your child to discover different interests and find new subjects that they may want to explore.
Keep reading fun by playing with different voices for different characters. Ask children questions about the story. Encourage children to make up their own stories based on the books they read. These are ways that you can extend reading time.
Reading to your child is an investment in their future. By building a love of books and a strong foundation of language and literacy skills, you are setting them up for success in school and in life. Make reading a priority, and watch as your child grows into a lifelong reader and learner who will never be intimidated from learning anything new.
Later as your baby grows into toddlerhood or preschooler everyone can take turns reading a chapter, or you can have a "book club" where everyone shares their thoughts and feelings about the book they have just read. Such activities promote a love of reading. They encourage critical thinking and allow open-ended discussions.
Encouraging your child to read books that are relevant to their interests and hobbies establishes in their mind their uniqueness. It promotes self confidence. For example, if your child is interested in animals, you can find books about different species, their habitats, and their behaviors whereas if your child is interested in science, you can find books that explore different scientific concepts and theories. By finding books that relate to your child's interests, you can help keep children engaged in reading and inspire their creativity.
Create a comfortable reading environment by providing a cozy reading nook in your child's room, a well-lit area, or a comfortable chair. You can also encourage your child to keep a journal to reflect on what they have read.
It is important to bear in mind that nonfiction reading will improve your child's vocabulary, increase their knowledge, and enhance their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Reading fiction, on the other hand, helps your child develop empathy for others.
Consider that Elon Musk taught himself how to build rockets by reading. It starts young, this nurturing of a trait but it can grow to untold heights. Teach your child to love reading and you teach your child how to be powerful in the world.
