I love reading aloud to my young granddaughters. It’s an opportunity to ham things up a bit and practice my presentation skills in case I’m ever called upon to do a book reading. It’s also something a whole lot more: a chance to introduce phonics and vocabulary and the joy of holding and reading a real, live book.
The American Academy of Pediatrics believes that reading aloud to your child during the first three years of life enhances pre-literacy skills that are essential to success in school. This is especially important to lower income children who may not have access to as many books in the home as children from wealthier families. Groups like Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters hope to even the odds for those children through home visits.
The June 24, 2014 edition of the New York Times contains an article that explores this issue in more depth. All kids deserve the chance to succeed!
I read to my son and we both loved it but the best part is that it showed him the mysteries found in books. To this day, he’s an avid reader.
You are so right. It’s important to read to children and it certainly brings families closer together as they travel that road of adventure through the pages of a book.