The Importance of Reading to a Child

Video Transcript

Hi, I am Debbie with ExpertVillage.com and we are talking about how to read to young children and the importance of reading to young children. Children should be read to practically in the womb and if not in the womb the minute that they are born, in your arms rocking in a rocking chair. I cannot stress the importance of reading to your child everyday. Children need to hear your language, they need to hear the inflection in your voice, they need to hear you be playful with language and they learn so much not to mention it being a valuable time for you and your child to spend together. Another way to make sure that your child understands the importance of reading and cultivate that love of reading is for them to see you reading as many different kinds of print as possible. Magazines, newspapers, and books that you have chosen. Go to the library together and you can get books for yourself while they are getting books from themselves so that they understand that you know reading is important as well. Reading together at the breakfast table while looking at the cereal box, looking at the ingredients, and there is any number of ways that you can offer your child that print is everywhere and you know it is important. Reading aloud to children gives them so many skills and so many opportunities to be successful students when they enter school. Reading aloud is the greatest predictor of reading success. Research has proven that children who are read to more are more successful readers on down the road. When they enter kindergarten, they should have so many skills under their belt because you as a parent are their first and foremost teacher.