There are many good reasons to read to babies from birth onward. Sharing books develops early language, social skills, and literacy skills that are foundational for later learning in school. The age at which parents begin sharing books has a strong connection to an infant's language development, which in turn is a predictor of later reading success.
Impact on Physical Brain Development
Hold your infant while you share a story to help your baby feel loved and comfortable. This elevates levels of brain chemicals such as serotonin, which in turn increase the number of connections in the brain. More neural connections improve a child's ability to learn. Brain scans can show physical differences in the level of brain activity between infants who have this sort of stimulation and those who do not, according to Constance Holden, author of "Child Development: Small Refugees Suffer the Effects of Early Neglect."
Impact on Langauge Skills
Read to your baby to build language skills. At first, the child will be soothed by the sound of your voice, but then she will begin to learn about the patterns of language. Reading together increases the infant's receptive vocabulary long before baby speaks his first words. Begin with simple picture-naming books and progress through simple stories about everyday life to develop your baby's understanding of the words she is hearing. When the infant is exposed to a wide variety of words repeatedly through books, signals are repeatedly sent down neural pathways, increasing the rate and complexity of language development.
Impact on Readiness Skills
Share books with your infant to develop reading readiness skills. Reading aloud builds the cognitive framework necessary to benefit from reading instruction in the early school years. Infants who listen to stories begin to internalize concepts such as that printed words convey meaning, pages turn from right to left, books open and close, and stories that are written down do not change. The brain organizes these ideas into the cognitive concepts that form the foundation for literacy.
Impact on Literacy
Provide your baby with positive reading experiences during infancy to increase her chances of having positive attitudes about books during the school years. Students who have had countless books read to them since birth in a positive manner are more successful in school than their peers whose parents did not share books during the early years of childhood. Daily reading helps a child grow to expect positive things from books and so will help most youngsters become motivated to develop their own literacy skills.
Suggestions for Reading with Infants
Hold baby close and share short, simple stories and verses. Use soft, pleasant tones. Read only as long as the infant seems engaged and never force the child to listen to books. Share stories that have bold, bright pictures of common items, animals and pictures of people, especially other babies. Reread favorite books regularly to strengthen neural pathways with familiarity. Read the text as written to promote understanding of the connection between printed and spoken words. Read regularly as part of your daily routine.
References
- University of Michigan Health System; Reading, Literacy and Your Child; Kyla Boyse, RN; October 2010
- America Reads Challenge; Getting to Know You: Activities for Young Babies; April 1997
- "Every Child Ready to Read @ Your Library"; Public Library Association; 1997
- "Science"; Small Refugees Suffer the Effects of Early Neglect; Constance Holden; November 1996
