READING IS FOR LIFE

By: Gary Weinberger, M.D.

Today’s parents really want to give their children a jump-start on learning and life.  As a result, young children enroll in educational and artistic activities in record numbers.  Preschool-age children participate in many activities ranging from t-ball to dance class and from piano recitals to voice lessons.  With all this emphasis on learning, however, many parents have left out one of the most important components of a child’s development—reading.

Studies demonstrate what pediatricians, teachers, and psychologists have known for decades: Children who are read to as infants and toddlers demonstrate stronger vocabulary and higher reading abilities in school.  These strengths ultimately affect the child’s desire to stay in school and seek a fulfilling career.

The learning begins with re-reading favorite stories.  A child eventually memorizes the words that occur on each page of a book and later associates the written symbols on the paper with the word they represent.  Beginning this process at home gives the child an advantage when school starts. 

Re-reading stories also aids in the development of more sophisticated conversation skills.  As a child becomes more familiar with a story, he is better prepared to tell what he thinks about the story and can provide more information regarding the characters.

Parents need to participate in conversations with their children about how their own lives relate to the story.  Also, parents should pause during a story and encourage the child to talk about what he thinks will happen next.  These measures will improve the child’s success in language and reading in kindergarten and first grade.

A parent who truly wants to provide his or her child with a solid background for school should slow down and take the time to read to the child on a routine basis.  For a list of appropriate books, talk with your child’s teacher, librarian, or pediatrician.