Story Time: 5 Benefits of Reading to Your Toddler
“We tell ourselves stories in order to live” is by far our favorite quote by Joan Didion, acclaimed author and winner of the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal.
It is true: the foundation and chore of human interaction and meaningful relationships are stories — stories we build, stories we tell ourselves, stories we pass throughout generations. On a personal note, this partly why we believe reading to toddlers is highly beneficial.
Here are some of the many other reasons why reading with toddlers is valuable for their development:
1. Bonding With Your Child
It comes as no surprise that babies and toddlers aim to socialize with their parents over anyone else. However, more often than not, parents get busy and, sometimes, patience runs out. If this is your case, then books for kids can help.
According to a study, harsh parenting practices are less common in parents who read to their toddlers. Likewise, disruptive and hyperactive behavior is less common in these toddlers.
Reading with your child is the perfect bonding activity. When reading, your child feels safe by snuggling close to you and hearing your voice.
2. Language Development
If you want your little one to boost its vocabulary, then books for babies and toddlers are your go-to.
A 2008 study found that reading to children promotes language development. As a result of reading, parents are exposing children to a broader vocabulary. Also, since children’s books contain plenty of pictures, it is easier for them to retain and learn new words.
3. Better Sleep at Night
Reading to your toddler can help them establish a bedtime routine and build better sleep habits.
Activities like playtime, watching movies, or hearing certain music can overstimulate your child, which is the last thing a parent wants before bedtime. In contrast, children wind down by sitting still and hearing their parents’ soothing voices during storytime.
Don’t expect your child to always fall asleep during or after storytime. Reading is not a sleeping pill. However, you can expect a calmer environment at home after storytime, which is necessary for children to achieve quality sleep.
4. Cognitive Development
Cognitive skills are those that enable us to learn new things. These skills are essential for intellectual and emotional development.
During storytime, babies get exposure to colors, sounds, and textures that help them in their cognitive development. When reading fiction stories to toddlers, they get to develop their listening and attention skills. Also, toddlers get to put to work their imagination by listening to fiction stories.
5. Social Learning
Life lessons, a.k.a. the moral of the story, in books help toddlers with social and emotional learning.
Through stories, toddlers can learn to manage and solve situations that may present to them later in life. Plus, in an effort to relate to book protagonists, toddlers are likely to learn positive attitudes from them.
Tips for Parents to Make Story Time Memorable
Avoid showing that story time is a chore. If you are reading to a baby, be enthusiastic about storytime. Meanwhile, for toddlers, present reading as an activity that you find valuable and exciting.
Pay attention to your child’s interests. Do they like dogs? Get a book about dogs! The same situation applies to dinosaurs, cats, nature, etc. Most importantly, don’t force your interests into your child’s book choices.
Start short; we recommend reading for five minutes every day. If your child shows interest, keep going.
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