Jan 31 2009
Reading to Your Children
A recent study commissioned by Reach Out and Read revealed that the majority of young children — 52 percent — are not being read to on a daily basis. That’s 13 million children under 6 years old who are going to bed every night without a bedtime story — without the undivided, loving attention that comes with sharing a favorite book with their parents
Dr. Barry Zuckerman, Reach Out and Read
Today I came across a blog which discusses the above, rather frightening statistic. Reading to children has a positive impact on one’s relationship with them, their language development, future scholastic and life achievement, and simply develops a love for books.
While I don’t think books should be forced on children, and they should be supported in the individual interests they develop from a young age, I do think having a book-friendly culture in the home is important - seeing parents read being one of the key factors. This is something my toddler definitely sees a lot of - I read while he’s having a bath, I often read while I’m eating, I grab moments of reading everywhere.
As a devoted bookworm, I have to say that being read to from a very early age instilled in me a fascination with, and love of, books. When I was in the hospital with asthma at three years old, the nurses apparently thought I was actually reading a favourite book, but I’d just memorised it exactly from being read it so many times! A lot of children I went to school with saw books as a tiresome chore, to be dealt with only to fulfil teachers’ requirements, whereas I would curl up in the book corner at any given opportunity.
In fact, reading to my child is one of the things I’ve always looked forward to about having children! Even at sixteen months, the Pibler loves being read to, and has shown an interest in books for many months. I started reading to him when he was still a newborn! He eagerly brings me books on and off all day. He sits on my lap and listens attentively, turning the pages and commenting on what he sees. Sharing books with him is right up there in my list of top favourite parenting moments of the day: it allows me to slow down and savour the extraordinary gift of having him for a son, and share something I love with him.
I was very touched by your description of sharing books with your son and also shocked that more than half of all parents don’t read with their child each day. My daughter loves books and the bedtime story is a not-to-be-missed part of our daily routine. I am also trying to encourage my son to look at books but he is at the ‘I’d rather tear it apart than look at it’ stage, although he does sometimes look at the pictures and smiles, so that is a start!
Best wishes for many more special times reading with your son,
Roz
Thank you. My son also used to want to bite and tear books more than read them, but that has really changed since his attention span improved. One thing I’ve learned from lurking on internet forums, all kids are so different!