Why reading books is so beneficial for children

4 Feb

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I am an avid believer that you cannot introduce children to books early enough. Books are fun right from the start, and there’s a book for every life stage of a growing child.

When our son was a baby, we had some haptic books made out of squishable fabrics with different colours, textures and attachments to explore. Then, there were the sturdy board books - with black and white prints, or colourful pictures of objects. Oh, and then soon enough, we introduced short picture books, with increasing length, text, and complexity. I cannot wait to introduce longer texts, chapter books, and guide the literacy journey! What wonderful worlds await in all these books!

But what’s the magic around books? Why are they so powerful, so loved?

I believe that engaging children with books early on does not only bring pleasure to the reading caregiver, but also contributes positively to the child’s overall development.

Cognitive Development
Reading plays a vital role in helping a child's brain grow and develop, significantly improving their various thinking skills. It not only supports critical thinking but also enhances their problem-solving abilities. By exploring a wide range of different stories and narratives, children are able to learn how to analyse various situations, grasp complex ideas, and think critically about many important topics (especially if they are engaged in active reading and talk with the reader about what is being said). This engagement with literature fosters their overall cognitive development and enriches their understanding of the world around them.
Language Acquisition
Books expose children to new vocabulary and different sentence structures, which enhances their language skills. The more a child listens to read-alouds and later on reads themselves, the more words they are likely to learn, improving their ability to communicate effectively. This foundation supports both oral and written language use as they grow. That is why reading books in all your languages is so vital, and can have a strong impact on your multilingual upbringing.
Imagination and Creativity
When children are being read to, it sparks imagination, allowing children to visualise scenarios and characters in unique ways. This imaginative engagement can foster creativity, encouraging children to express themselves in various forms, whether through storytelling, art, or play.
Emotional Understanding
Reading books that feature diverse characters helps children to better understand a variety of different viewpoints and feelings. This way, they can grasp, visualise, and practice empathy and emotional intelligence. It is fascinating how it also helps children to manage their own emotions and how they can recognise their own and the feelings of others. This builds the foundation of positive social interactions and relationship building.
Concentration and Discipline
Regular reading helps with concentration and the ability to focus on a task. Engaging with a book requires attention and discipline, skills that are transferable to other areas of learning and life. Establishing a reading routine can help children develop these important traits.
Knowledge Acquisition
Books are a valuable source of information. They enable children to explore various topics ranging from science to culture to history. This broadens their knowledge base and fosters curiosity about the world around them.
Academic Achievement
There is a strong correlation between reading proficiency and academic success. Children who read regularly tend to perform better in school across various subjects. Early engagement with books can build the foundational skills necessary for future academic excellence.
Bonding Opportunities
Reading together can strengthen relationships between children and caregivers. Shared reading experiences create moments of connection and intimacy, encouraging discussions and fostering a love for literature.
Life Skills Development
Through stories, children learn valuable life lessons and moral values. They encounter dilemmas and resolutions that provide insight into real-world situations. This understanding can guide their decision-making as they navigate social interactions throughout their lives.

I cannot wait to get my reading glasses back on and grab the next book for our reading sessions. We are lucky enough that our son shares the love for books, and he finds comfort and excitement in reading a lovely book together.

A big part of our site here is to introduce you to a variety of children’s books, so you can explore themes that you would like to present to your child. Dive into our ever-growing library of book reviews. You can be assured that we read every single book here in our home. Since we read in Portuguese. German, and English, you will find the reviews tailed to one language specifically. This is for example interesting if translations change character names, or if we share pictures of the books, or if we mention publisher information. While we try to always link back to all three languages, sometimes not all books are localised in all languages.