Reading Together Opens Doors: Into Other Worlds And To School.
Do you remember the feeling of getting lost in reading a great story? The characters that felt like your best friends and the worlds that felt like your own? At Journey Early Learning, we believe that every child deserves the same experience and that reading is the key to unlocking a world of imagination and learning. Our incredible educators are experts at storytelling. They use different voices, big gestures, and tons of enthusiasm to bring stories to life for the little ones. It’s truly a magical experience to watch! And the best part? Your child can have that same magical experience every time you sit down to read together.
Why is reading so important?
Well, studies have shown that children who are read to regularly are more likely to develop a lifelong love of learning and an interest in exploring new ideas. Reading can also help your child develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.
Reading for school readiness
For example, reading can improve your child’s vocabulary and language skills, which are crucial for success in literacy-based subjects like English and History. It can also stimulate their cognitive development and encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, all of which are essential for success in various subjects.
Emotional and cognitive development
But reading isn’t just about academic success. It can also help your child develop social-emotional skills, such as empathy, emotional regulation, and communication, which are important for forming positive relationships with peers and teachers in a classroom setting.
Start as early as possible.
So, when should you start reading to your child? The answer is simple: from birth! Even newborns can benefit from hearing the sound of their parent’s voice and the rhythm of language. As your child grows, you can introduce different types of books that are appropriate for their age and developmental stage.
“If you read one book to your child daily, by their 5th birthday, they will have read 1825 books.”
Make reading a regular part of your daily routine, whether it’s at bedtime, after mealtime, or in the morning. And don’t be afraid to choose books with diverse characters and themes. They can help your child develop empathy and an understanding of different perspectives, which are important skills for success in a multicultural classroom setting.
All books are good books.
There are no hard and fast rules when choosing books, but try to look for books with engaging illustrations, a simple narrative structure, and repetitive phrases or rhymes. These can help your child develop language skills and encourage participation and interaction. And remember, it’s always better to read a fun and entertaining book than to insist on the most pedagogically good one.
After all, the joy of reading should be awakened, and that should be the focus.
So, let’s open some doors together, friends!
Let’s dive into other worlds, unlock new ideas, and make reading a cherished part of every child’s life.
