Lifelong success depends on the development of some basic skills; reading is one of these. It is not just your child’s academic success that will be affected by developing good reading habits, but many other aspects of life as well. Why is it so important to develop good reading habits? Here are the top five reasons why good reading habits are absolutely vital to any child’s success.
Expansion of vocabulary. Reading is one of the best ways to add new words to your child’s vocabulary. Susan Canizares, PhD, who specializes in language and literacy development, explains how reading can expose your child to a world of new words and phrases: “When you read aloud to your child, you are not just helping In preparing her to learn to read, you are also exposing her to rich language that she might not otherwise hear. “
Greater attention span. Today, many children suffer from short attention spans; reading is a great way to combat this. Focusing on a book requires the child to stay in one place and pay attention, which will help expand their attention span and better focus on all areas of life.
Preparing your child for school. School is a very reading intensive environment. Children who have developed good reading habits early in life will have a much easier adaptation to this environment.
Encourage a lifelong love of books. When you develop good reading habits in your child early in life, you encourage him to develop a love for the written word throughout his life. They will be more likely to continue reading throughout their lives, assisting in their higher education.
Reading makes children want to learn. Reading encourages curiosity about the world and leads children to want to learn and discover even more. It leads children to ask questions and seek answers, encouraging them to learn more.
There are some simple ways that parents can help develop good reading habits in their children that will serve them well for life:
• Start reading to your children at a very young age
• Spend some time reading your own books, as this will be a model for your children.
• Take the time to talk with your child about what he has been reading.
Parents are the best role models for their children when it comes to good reading habits. This will help them develop the motivation to read. “Children develop the motivation to read when read to frequently, learning first-hand the joys that reading can bring,” says Susan B. Neuman, who directs the Center for Improving Early Reading Achievement located at the University of Michigan.