RSS Feed
The Benefits of Reading at a Young Age
How many books did you read as a kid? While it is true that some children will never be seen without a book, it can be hard work getting every child to read enthusiastically. Yet this is the key stage in their lives when a love of reading should be developed in order to give them plenty of enjoyment throughout their adult lives as well.
While being able to read is certainly an essential skill that is needed in everyday life, there is far more to a book than pages full of words to be learned. It can be a window onto another life, and there is certainly nothing else like the power of a book to transport you into other times and worlds – both real and imagined.
The key to getting kids to enjoy books from a young age is to discover what interests they have, and match some books to those interests. For example, if your child loves horse riding you'll find there is a whole range of books on that subject from which they could choose the ones that most interest them. While fictional stories are wonderful to read, there is no beating a factual book for giving your child an insight into what life is really like – whether that is today or a thousand years ago.
Television certainly has its place in modern society but when it comes to books you can develop your knowledge in a number of ways. There is no doubt that children who are voracious readers tend to be able to spell more easily as a result: a skill that can be taken forward to be used in any job or career in the future.
Books can also teach children how to put ideas and thoughts down in words. They learn essential English skills through reading every day that they don’t even realise they are learning. For children who find it difficult to keep their attention in lessons reading can provide a way to make that learning process easier and more engaging for them. As they get older the habit of reading regularly will also stay with them, giving them an outlet that provides rest, relaxation and an escape route from the stress of everyday life on occasion.
So how can you get your children interested in reading? If you introduce books at a young age they will grow up being used to having books all around them. Encourage them to choose their own books, and buy books for birthdays, Christmas and other occasions as well as toys. You can be guaranteed that the books will last longer.
Perhaps that is the real gift of a book – the knowledge that the more wear and tear it goes through and the more creased its pages get, the more loved it has been in its lifetime.
