Why Read Aloud to Your Children?/Helping Them Understand the World Around Them

Parents who read aloud to their children can give a valuable gift-a knowledge of people, places, and things.  With relatively little expense, they can "travel" the world through the pages of books. Consider the example of two-year old Anthony, whose mother had read to him since birth. She says:  "His first visit to the zoo was a journey of rediscovery." Rediscovery?  Yes, although Anthony was seeing Zebras, lions, giraffes, and other animals in the flesh for the first time, he had already been introduced to these creatures. His mother explains: "Anthony has made joyful acquaintance with countless people, animals, objects and ideas, all between the covers of books, in his first two years of life."  Yes, reading aloud to children when they are young can contribute much to their understanding of the world in which they live.

Building a Close Relationship

During the formative years, young children develop attitudes that will influence their actions in the years to come. Parents thus need to lay  the foundation for a close relationship marked by confidence, mutual respect, and understanding.  Reading can be instrumental in this process.

When parents take the time to hold their children in their arms and read to them, the message is clear:  "I love you." Phoebe, a mother in Canada, said of reading to her son, now eight years old:  "My husband and I feel that this has contributed greatly to Nathan's  feeling close to us. He is open with us and often tells us what he is feeling.  It has created a special bond."

Cindy has made it a habit to read aloud to her daughter since she was about a year old and alert enough to sit and listen for a minute or two. Has it been worth all the time and effort?  Cindy observes:  "The friendly, nonthreatening environment of reading together is often all that is needed to move Abigail to tell us about some incident at school or some problem with a friend. What parent isn't eager for that response?"  Assuredly, reading aloud can contribute to a close bond between parent and child.

Next time: Why Read Aloud to Your Children?/ Inculcating Important Life Skills

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