By Jan de Lange

Reading is one of life’s greatest joys. It gives us access to everything from friends and family’s messages to current affairs. It’s where we can find anything from ancient wisdom to cutting edge discoveries. Reading has fantastic benefits for young and old, which is why it’s never too early to start. Here are some of the benefits reading to your baby has:

Language

Reading to babies is extremely good for their language development. The combination of words and images has a massive impact on how babies learn to understand the world around them. Reading to babies teaches them everyday phrases and how to associate them with their surroundings. These short phrases give babies the building blocks for language.

Concentration

Reading to toddlers can be challenging. They often try skip pages, randomly alternate between books and sometimes end up simply throwing books around. Frequently reading with your baby will help to grow their attention span. As their language skills develop, they also start to understand more and more of the story. If you’ve ever changed the channel while watching TV because the show was in a language you don’t understand with no subtitles, you have an idea of what your baby experiences. 

Imagination

One of the great joys of reading to your child is seeing their imagination grow. While in the early stages they might seem passive, they eventually start to engage with the story. This can start out as simply as them remembering what’s on the next page and getting excited about it. As their language skills get more advanced, they might even start to guess what’s waiting on the next page.

Entertainment

Books are a great alternative to entertainment forms involving screen-time. Your baby can flip through the pages and many books have interesting textures that can engage your child’s other senses. They find the shapes and colours endlessly fascinating and enjoy discovering new things about the world. A major benefit of this form of entertainment is that your baby can set the pace. You can judge if they’re following and slow down if needed. Alternatively, you can pick up the pace when you see them getting bored.

Reading and a love of literature is a lifelong gift for your child to enjoy. It also provides a fantastically fun opportunity for bonding. The memories of reading with your baby is one of parenthood’s greatest joys.