Why Read to Your Children?

Inculcating Important Life Skills

"Our children today ingest so much mental garbage, from television and other sources, that they need, more than ever, some mental nourishment, some clear thinking, some wisdom, some mental moorings that will help them live up to their values and see their lives in proper perspective," says the book 3 Steps to a Strong Family.   Parents are in the best position  to provide a positive and wholesome influence.

Exposure to complex and well-structured sentences found in books can be a positive tool for teaching a child to express himself both in speaking and in writing.  Dorothy Butler, author of Babies Need Books,  says:  "The quality of an individual's thought will depend upon the quality of his language. Language is, indeed, in the center of the stage as far as learning and intelligence are concerned."  The ability to communicate well is the lifeblood of good relationships.

Reading from appropriate books can also reinforce good morals and values. Parents  who read and reason with their children can help them  to develop  problem-solving skills. As Cindy read with her daughter Abigail, she carefully observed Abigail's reaction to situations presented in stories.  "As parents, we can learn  more about subtle traits in her personality and hopefully help her head off improper thinking at a very early stage." Indeed, reading aloud with children can educate both the mind and the heart.

Next time: Why Read Aloud to Your Children?/Making Reading a Pleasure

From the Awake! magazine