Notes from this Episode:

Background:

• Why is reading to your children so important?  It is so good on so many different levels.
• Reading to your children is more than just a way to quiet them down before bedtime.
• There are five benefits to reading to your children:
  • Improved imagination and creativity
  • Development of self
  • Brain development
  • You are developing better readers
  • You will have “smarter children”

Improving Imagination and Creativity

• When you are not exposed to fantastic stories with magical endings or faraway places, you do not develop a sense of wonder, awe, and imagination.
• Creativity comes naturally to many, but can be developed through exposure to creative concepts and themes.

Reading Contributes to the Development of Self

• Children will become curious, thoughtful, and calmer.
• They will develop critical thinking skills, and as they go through the events of stories with the main characters, they see how problems are approached and solved.
• Children’s attention span will increase, then gradually it will help to develop stamina.

Reading Can Contribute to Brain Development

• When you increase the activity and challenge of the brain, the brain responds and stimulates brain growth.
• Reading books that have limited illustrations forces the children to focus on what you are saying, rather than what they see, and without visual cues, the brain is trained to listen.

When You Read, You Develop Better Readers

• Your children will develop an increased vocabulary because they are exposed to words that they do not use in their everyday language.
• Children will have increased concentration.
  • When you read an interesting book to your child, you will be amazed at how long they can sit still.
• It is a great idea to stop occasionally and ask your children what they think will happen next, or why a character acted a certain way.
  • It helps the children not only listen, but really think about what is going on in the story and predict an outcome.

Reading Creates “Smarter Children”

• Your children will fall in love with learning and reading, and when children are excited to learn the next new thing, they will learn and retain more.
• Reading is exciting because they never know what they will hear next.
• Children will develop a natural interest in books and in learning to see what they can discover.
• Your children will become better problem solvers because they are encouraged to use their imagination, which allows their brains to think beyond the box.

A Bonus Benefit:  The Time You Spend Together

• Most children have the love language of touch and quality time.
• As you sit side by side or with your children in your lap, you fulfill both love languages.

Final Thoughts on Reading to Your Children

• If we commit to reading to our children every day, we will, in a sense, force ourselves to embrace that love language that we need to, we will connect with our children, and love that time together.
• As you read together, you will go on great adventures with your children that will bond you and your child for life.
• You can find age-appropriate reading lists at www.janetquinlan.com/readinglist.