Most babies and toddlers love books. They are often funny, bright and colourful, with loveable characters. But there are many reasons to read books that are less obvious. Take advantage of these less obvious reasons for reading to them.
How books and stories help learning
- Books help develop their language and thinking skills.
- Young children can learn about the world from picture books. Especially if the book is set in places different to theirs.
- Develop your child’s vocabulary. Show simple pictures and then say the name of what is in the picture, this helps even very young children learn what things are called.
- Children can learn many things from books – size, colour, shape; about what things look like-especially if they are not exposed to to them in daily life; and about other people and their lives.
- Early mathematics: They learn about numbers and space. For example, from ‘The Three Bears’ they can learn that there were 3 bears, one father bear, one mother bear and one baby bear. They also learn about opposites such as big and little, inside and outside. And all this happens without any formal teaching ( called incidental learning). They learn it just from enjoying the story.
- Stories help to develop children’s imaginations and creativity. Enhance this feature of books by reading stories of many different types and styles.
Stories teach children how to cope with feelings
- When children hear stories which contain feelings your child is helped to accept her own feelings and to begin to understand how others might feel. She finds out that she is not alone and that other children may feel the same way she does. This in turn, helps her to realise that her feelings are acceptable and okay.
- When you read a story to your child it can show that you do understand how she feels. For example, if you are reading a story about children (or animals) who are frightened of the dark, it helps your child to know that you understand that it is easy to be frightened of the dark and perhaps even give them tools to cope with these fears.
- Books help to deal with fears. Books about something your child fears helps your child to cope with those fears. For example: reading about the First day at School. Hearing or reading the story many times can help children manage their fears.
Stories help develop confidence
- Building self-esteem and confidence is aided by knowing where you fit in the world. Stories about family history – ‘When mummy was a little girl’ – helps your child develop a of belonging. This can be even more important if you have moved from another place or your family has been split up.
- Story time at bedtime helps your child look forward to going to bed for many reasons. To enjoy being close to you, to relax, and get ready for sleep.
- Books can help your child to escape for a while as the story takes her imagination to other wonderful places and on exciting adventures.
- Your child will thrive on spending calm and focussed time with you.
- Reading and telling stories to your child can be a very special sharing time which helps your children to learn to love and appreciate books. Many children remember fondly, their story times for the rest of their lives.
I am a preschool and primary school teacher and mum to 3 children. I have been involved in education since 1997 and have trained in a variety of educational specialist areas. It is with this expertise that I write articles to help parents and educators provide quality learning experiences for the children in their care.
