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The Benefits of Reading to Your Child: Why It's One of the Best Gifts You Can Give

We’ve all seen the perfect picture - snuggled up at bedtime with your little one, sharing a favourite storybook and creating precious moments.


But in reality, life can get busy. And the idyllic bedtime routine seems a distant dream. 


Reading to your child doesn’t have to be limited to bedtimes. 


Encouraging a love of reading in children should be embedded throughout the day, in every given opportunity. From reading instructions in a cookbook to looking at the letters on a road sign.


The opportunity to give the gift of reading is everywhere.


In this article, we’ll take a look at the benefits of reading to your child and how this promotes early literacy skills development. We’ll also share tips on how to encourage reading in everyday lives, so that it becomes enjoyable, not a chore.   


Early Development by Reading to Your Child

At Lucky Beans Childcare, we witness the transformative power of stories in children's lives. 


From the tiniest babies who coo with delight at rhythmic nursery rhymes, to confident preschoolers who can predict what happens next in familiar tales. 


We see firsthand how reading shapes young minds in profound and lasting ways.


Reading to children extends far beyond the story itself. It creates a ripple effect that influences cognitive development, emotional intelligence, and academic success.


Let’s take a look at the developmental benefits of reading to your child in some more detail:


Vocabulary Expansion and Understanding of Language

When you read with your child regularly, you're essentially providing them with a private vocabulary lesson disguised as entertainment. 


Research shows that children's books contain 50% more rare words than adult conversations and prime-time TV [1]. Meaning that reading to children every day exposes them to rich, diverse language they wouldn't encounter otherwise.


During reading sessions, your child absorbs new words naturally, understanding meaning through context and repetition. 


For instance, in Big, Bigger, Biggest! By Nancy Coffelt, readers encounter the word “enormous” as part of a playful progression—“…I'm bigger… I'm gigantic… I'm immense… I'm enormous.” Here, children learn the concept of “enormous” through comparing it with “big,” “bigger,” and “gigantic.” 


And in Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile, the title—and the story itself—brings the meaning of “enormous” to life through the exaggerated antics of a famously large crocodile.


This organic vocabulary building creates strong foundations for future communication and academic success.


Building Listening and Concentration Skills

With more technology readily available, the skill of prolonged concentration is depleting. A valuable skill that is needed in learning. 


Reading to babies and toddlers develops their attention spans by teaching them to follow narratives from beginning to end. 


Even those early board books, with one or two words per page, train young minds to sustain concentration. While longer picture books for older children promote listening stamina.


Watch your child during story time—notice how they learn to anticipate page turns, predict story outcomes, and remember character details from previous readings. 


These skills translate directly into classroom settings, where listening carefully and following instructions support educational development.


(why not check out our 6 Screen-Free Time Activities)


Foundation for Early Literacy Skills

Long before children recognise individual letters, they're developing crucial pre-reading abilities through listening to stories being read to them.


The importance of reading to toddlers becomes particularly evident as they begin to understand the direction of text, that stories have beginnings, middles, and ends, and that those mysterious black marks on pages carry meaning.


Children who experience regular parent and child reading time arrive at school with a sophisticated understanding of how books work. 


They know that pictures support text, that stories follow logical sequences, and that reading is an enjoyable, worthwhile activity—giving them tremendous advantages as formal literacy instruction begins.


Memory and Problem-Solving Techniques from Reading

Following a story requires children to remember character names, understand cause-and-effect, and make predictions based on what they have already read. 


Why is the character behaving that way?

What might happen next?

How would you handle this situation?


These cognitive exercises strengthen memory systems and develop logical and critical thinking skills that support mathematical reasoning, scientific inquiry, and creative problem-solving.


Woman reading a book to toddlers

Emotional and Social Development from Reading Together

Few activities create intimacy quite like sharing stories together. 


Those precious moments when your child chooses to sit close while you read, or you answering those endless questions about the details of the story, represent profound bonding opportunities. 


Reading with your child benefits the entire family dynamic by establishing peaceful, connected time that becomes increasingly precious as children grow.


Many adults can still remember their favourite childhood books and the loved ones who read them aloud, demonstrating reading's power to forge emotional connections that transcend time.


Building Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Stories provide safe spaces for children to explore complex emotions and different perspectives. 


When reading about characters facing challenges, children learn to understand feelings they may have experienced. 


A story about a character feeling nervous about starting school helps children recognise and name similar emotions in themselves.


Through storybooks, children encounter diverse characters from various backgrounds, cultures, and circumstances, naturally developing empathy and understanding for others. 


These early exposures in emotional intelligence prove invaluable throughout life, supporting healthy relationships and social interactions.


Practical Tips for Successful Family Reading


Making Reading Part of Daily Life

Incorporating reading into busy family schedules doesn't require elaborate planning or significant time commitments. 


Consider these simple strategies for encouraging a love of reading in children:


Morning Connections: Start days with a short book during breakfast. Board books work perfectly for quick morning reads that begin days positively.


Transition Times: Use books to smooth difficult transitions like car rides, waiting periods, or quiet time before naps. Portable books are handy tools for managing daily routines peacefully.


Bedtime Traditions: Establish consistent bedtime reading routines that signal day's end while providing comforting connection time before sleep.


Best Age-Appropriate Books to Read to Children


For Babies (0-12 months): Select high-contrast board books such as black and white images and patterns, soft fabric books, and simple picture books with rhythmic text. 


Reading to babies benefits their developing visual and auditory systems while establishing positive book associations early.


Book recommendations:

  • "Dear Zoo" by Rod Campbell

  • "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" by Bill Martin Jr.

  • "Peek-a-Who?" by Nina Laden

  • "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown

  • "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle


For Toddlers (1-3 years): Choose sturdy board books with simple stories, repetitive text, and engaging illustrations. 


The best books to read to toddlers often feature familiar objects, animals, or daily routines that connect to their expanding world understanding.


Book recommendations:

  • "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak

  • "Corduroy" by Don Freeman

  • "The Rainbow Fish" by Marcus Pfister

  • "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin Jr.

  • "The Way I Feel" by Janan Cain


For Preschoolers (3-5 years): Introduce longer books with more complex narratives, diverse characters, and rich vocabulary. 


Children this age can handle stories with mild conflict and resolution, supporting emotional development.


Book recommendations:

  • "Green Eggs and Ham" by Dr. Seuss

  • "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel

  • "Mercy Watson" series by Kate DiCamillo

  • "Elephant and Piggie" series by Mo Willems

  • "Biscuit" series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli


A mother reading a book to her baby

How to Encourage a Love of Reading

Children’s love for stories and books will develop, change and adapt as they grow. It’s important to support them with this. 


We’ve put together a few pointers to encourage and continue their love of reading:

  • Allow children to select books sometimes, even if they choose the same story repeatedly. This autonomy builds reading enthusiasm and demonstrates respect for their preferences and interests.

  • Ask questions and have discussions during reading. Ask open-ended questions like "What do you think will happen next?" or "How do you think the character feels?" These conversations deepen comprehension, critical thinking skills, and the opportunity for children to open up if they too, have experienced this feeling.

  • Let children "read" to you by describing pictures, retelling stories in their own words, or reading familiar words or parts of the story. This role reversal builds confidence and demonstrates that they're becoming readers themselves.

  • Visiting a community library with your child will open their eyes to the possibility of a whole new world through books. Books from different authors. Books from the past. Even books in different languages. Having a library card for themselves will provide ownership over their reading. 

  • Connecting stories to their own life and hobbies provides more relevance to the story. This is especially helpful if your child is a bit reluctant to read or listen to stories. 

  • Be a role model. Allowing your child to see you reading a book yourself, not a child’s book, will demonstrate a habit of reading for pleasure. In time, you may begin to see your child voluntarily reach for a book rather than a toy.

  • Explore audiobooks. There is now a wide variety of apps and story devices available for toddlers; a Toniebox is a good example of this. Your child may first listen to a story on their device, then burst with excitement when they see the matching book at school or in the library.   


A small boy sitting in a tent reading a book

Quick Facts About Reading and Child Development


Did You Know? [2]

  • 1 in 4 children do not reach the expected level of reading by the age of 11.

  • In England, only 29% of children stated they like reading “very much”, compared to the international average of 46%

  • Children with reading difficulties are at a greater risk of developing mental health issues in later life.

  • Reading for pleasure in early childhood is linked to better cognitive development and mental well-being. 

  • Having books in the home is associated with reading for enjoyment and reading confidence. 

  • 19% of adult readers said that reading prevents them from feeling lonely.


Your Reading Journey Starts Now

The benefits of reading to your child begin immediately and compound over time, creating foundations for lifelong learning, creativity, and connection. 


Whether you're starting to read with your newborn baby or rekindling reading habits with older children, it's never too early or too late to begin this rewarding journey.


Remember that reading together isn't about perfect pronunciation or getting through entire books quickly. It's about sharing wonder, building relationships, and nurturing young minds through the magic of storytelling.


At Lucky Beans Childcare, we've created special story times and literacy areas that complement families' home reading efforts. Often, we will visit our local libraries, invite storytellers into our settings to create a vivid and energetic story session, or simply listen to children retelling a real or made-up story.   

—----------------------------------------------------

The key lies not in perfection but in consistency and genuine enjoyment. 


When children see adults valuing and enjoying books, they naturally develop a similar appreciation for reading and learning.


We'd love to hear about your family's favourite books and reading traditions—share your stories with us in the comments below or connect with us to learn more about our early learning programmes.


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