RAISING READERS...CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”— Dr. Seuss
My father grew up on a small and beautiful island in the Caribbean. He talked about spending a lot of free time as a child swimming and reading. I remember him painting a picture of his excitement when he got a new book. He would find somewhere to curl up in the shade, listen to the wind and waves in the background, and read the book from cover to cover. He could go anywhere from that small island in his imagination through reading. And when he got older and moved to the states, he worked for Pan American Airlines and got to see a lot of the world that he had only previously read (and dreamed) about.
There are so many ways that the curiosity of a child’s mind, coupled with her imagination, sculpts the trajectory of her life’s passion and purpose. Reading and literacy has been a practice and skill that has been shown in study after study to improve outcomes for children. It is never too early to start reading to your child, and to get them interested in books. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends to start reading to your child at birth, and continuing at least through Kindergarten. Research has shown that children who start reading earlier “experience stronger parent-child relationships and learn valuable language and literacy skills.” And more recently, functional MRIs have shown more activity in the areas of the brain “supporting narrative comprehension and visual imagery, which are important for both language and reading.”
A study out of the United Kingdom which studied 70,000 children over 70 years looked at which parenting practices and other variables optimize outcomes such as health, education, and overall thriving for kids across their lifespan, and reading was at the top of this list. With all of this research to support the benefits of reading, why not make a special effort to make your child a reader?
So how can you foster a love of reading in your child? Here is Real Simple’s 5-Step Plan:
1. Stock up on Books – studies have shown a correlation between the number of books in a household and overall educational outcomes
2. Lead by Example – having your children seeing you reading, models the behavior for them and normalizes it
3. Read Aloud to your Kids – this not only models the behavior, but fosters a positive relationship between parent and child which also aids in development and learning
4. Engage Kids’ Natural Curiosity – make reading relevant to their interests or their lived experiences – this is another reason why diversity in authors of childrens’ books is important – so that we have a wealth of stories being told from different perspectives – and some that a child will be more easily able to relate to
5. Make Reading a Habit – this means you do it every day – fostering healthy habits early ensures optimal outcomes
As a pediatrician, and mom of three, it is difficult for me to find the time to read right now, at least, not the way I used to. I have adjusted my reading to mostly articles and medical journals because they are shorter and can be completed before I am interrupted or fall asleep from sheer fatigue. And I have incorporated audiobooks into my “reading” list, so that I can safely read while I drive or clean.
Thankfully, it seems there’s always time for a children’s book. I am really enjoying all the books I get to share with my girls. I have not lost my childlike curiosity of reading or hunger for knowledge and I am already seeing those qualities take shape in my girls. I cannot imagine the directions that their reading will take them in or all the opportunities that their learning will open up for them, but I am so excited to see all the places they will go.
To learn more about reading, click here.