How to support your child’s reading development

Numerous studies show the benefits of reading to your child and the negative effects of not reading to your child. Some argue that reading can begin before a child is born. Unfortunately, not every parent knows the importance of reading to their kids.

As a parent, I wish I had known what I know now about the importance of reading and vocabulary development. My experience growing up was very different from what many researchers recommend. I did not have multiple books, nor was I often read to by my parents.

Benefits of reading

But what are the benefits of reading to your child important? Reading to your child is important because it is the first language-learning step. Researchers Li and Fleer (2015) share that parents’ interaction with their children during a shared book reading is essential for building children’s interest in reading.  

If you ask a parent what they feel when they read to their child, he/she might share how reading contributes to their parent and child bond. Reading is a gratifying experience. Children truly enjoy being read to and also cherish the attention they are given during reading activities.

Some say that a child’s attention span increases when parents read to them. This is because the child develops the ability to sit still and engage during reading time. Reading also sends a message that communicates the importance of literature. I would argue that a routine may contribute to their well-being and memory retention.

Incidental vocabulary growth is another benefit that comes from reading to your child. Reading increases the ability to grow our vocabulary by reading. The idea is that the more we read, the more language we are exposed to.

Vocabulary skills benefits

As I write about the additional benefits of reading activities, I must mention how reading to children influences oral language development. Silverman (2007) highlights that although some children start school with vast vocabulary knowledge, many begin with relatively limited vocabulary knowledge. This difference in vocabulary skills is often attributed to home environments. Such a difference in vocabulary knowledge is evident when a parent reads or does not read to a child. These differences are reflected in a child’s language and literacy skills.

Regarding reading development, teachers often discuss the importance of background knowledge. Background knowledge influences reading and writing skills by allowing a person to draw from experience or knowledge. Each of these skills is essential to developing language skills in school.

Concerns about not reading

In 2001, researchers Tabors and Snow suggested that many children whose home language is not English have more limited English vocabularies compared to their monolingual English peers. A lack of vocabulary knowledge is more evident in English language learners, which teachers try to overcome by increasing vocabulary instruction. 

Not knowing enough vocabulary ultimately impacts cognitive development and reading comprehension for children. Reading comprehension is affected when children begin to read and encounter too many unknown vocabulary words. As kids grow, a concerning gap in vocabulary knowledge hinders their academic performance. For English language learners, vocabulary also contributes to English language acquisition.

A well-known academic achievement gap among our children also comes from a lack of reading exposure. The achievement gap refers to low performance among different groups of children. Stanovich (1986) notes this concern by stating that if one grows up in a household that encourages exposure to words, one’s vocabulary may be greater, which in turn may lead to superior learning and performance on other kinds of tasks that require language. 

When to begin reading

After reading about the benefits and concerns of reading to your child, we can now discuss when reading should begin. I have seen literature emphasizing how reading and talking to your child can begin as soon as you know what you expect. The idea that babies can hear us and a bond can start this early is magical. 

Once your child arrives, consistency is critical. Set a routine by scheduling a time to read regularly. Share this responsibility with your partner by alternating reading days or times. Most parents choose to do this during a child’s bedtime routine. Again, consistency is the most crucial part here.

I once heard during a school presentation that reading to kids should never stop. If your kids are older, consider having them read to you or read together. Discuss what they are reading about as often as possible. Designate a reading routine for older kids to read.

How to read to your child

What does reading to your child look like? In many households, this may be a nightly routine before a child goes to bed. Sometimes your child might fall asleep as you read to them. They might also be attracted to a favorite book or ask you to read the same books repeatedly. 

The types of books to read can vary. These could be picture books, non-fiction, or fiction books. Reading aloud is important so that kids are exposed to as much language as possible. Discuss with your child’s teacher to determine appropriate reading-level books as your child gets older. 

Picture Books

Picture books are books with less text in them. These books are an excellent start for younger kids to showcase the book as they read. The pictures tend to be colorful and engaging for kids. With picture books, parents can teach new vocabulary to kids.

Non-fiction  

Exposing kids to non-fiction books is a great way to teach facts and content. Non-fiction books tell facts and information about the world around us. These facts and information can cover almost any real-life topic, plants, animals, or anything around us. Use non-fiction books to expose kids to facts and information about the world we live in.

Fiction books

Meanwhile, fiction books are an imaginary form of narrative that covers fictitious content and information about everyday life. Some examples of fiction books are Disney theme books. Most fiction books present a made-up story using specific modes such as suspense. Use fiction books to expose kids to imaginary scenarios and help increase vocabulary.

Bilingual books

If you are bilingual, picture books may be a great way to tell stories in different languages. Be sure to use bilingual books to expose your child to multiple languages. Bilingual books are sometimes available in both English and another language. Alternate the language you read in the book to expose your child to various languages. Hearing the same story in multiple languages allows kids to make connections between multiple languages.  

Online reading options

Many online programs use a picture, non-fiction, fiction, and bilingual books. Most online programs offer audio play options that kids can click on to listen to books. If you are not bilingual, this may be a great way to expose your child to other languages and improve their listening skills.

Parents will read while the child enjoys and listen during the beginning stages. As children get older, they will begin to ask questions and follow along as you read to them. Remember that this reading activity is the beginning stage in teaching your child that words have meaning and sounds.  

Challenges

Several things influence why parents do not read to their children. For example, not being read to as a child is one reason some parents do not read to their kids. Although we now know reading to our kids is highly important, we might struggle to make this a routine.

We must practice making this part of our daily routine to overcome this roadblock. Once you make reading a habit, you will see its benefits to your child. As a parent, you will also enjoy the quality time regular reading provides. When reading becomes a routine, you’ll notice that skipping a reading activity will become harder with time.

A common challenge is not finding books to read. However, remember that reading the same book multiple times to kids is ok. There are also thousands of online books that parents can access for free. Your local school district and library offer online book access, including chapter books.

Additionally, dollar stores and second-hand stores sell books at affordable prices. Feel free to ask your school librarian for books as well. Amazon and eBay also offer numerous cheap books you can easily order online. Companies like Usborne Books and More have to engage and a variety of books for kids that they would love.

I hope you found affirmation to continue reading if you have already read to your child. If you are not, I hope you now understand its importance, the benefits, and how to read to your child. Remember that reading to kids can foster a stronger relationship and ultimately helps develop a reading habit. Reading is another thing you can do to enhance your parent-child relationship and contribute to their academic success and communication skills.

References

Li, L., & Fleer, M. (2015). Family pedagogy: parent-child interaction in shared book reading. 

Silverman, R. (2007). A comparison of three methods of vocabulary instruction during read-alouds in kindergarten. 

Stanovic, K. (1986). Mathew effects in reading: Some consequences of individual differences in the acquisition of literacy.

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