You Get All That From Reading?!

One of my favorite classes I have at Judge is Creative Writing, our new assignment is to write a Children's Book. It got me thinking about how important reading to children is. My childhood wouldn't have been complete without the books my parents read to me. So why is reading to children so important? What is so special about children's books that helps young kids' brains develop?

According to studies (http://www.familyresource.com/parenting/child-development/why-reading-is...) reading helps children to develop vital language skills as well as stimulating their imagination, improving social skills and teaching them to love to read.

Language skills are picked up in a variety of ways in children. Reading teaches kids vocabulary that they can't always pick up from their parents, it also teaches them the ability to gain knowledge from the written word. Reading also stimulates their imagination, by taking them to far away places they wouldn't otherwise be able to visit, real places like Italy or Australia, or fake places like Superman's lair. Reading also helps kids to gain social skills; if the book is read aloud to a group all the kids bond together through one story, that they all get to listen too. Lastly, reading to children teaches them to love reading, by showing them the knowledge you can gain from reading a simple book. It is proven that kids who enjoy reading when they are younger, are better readers in high school and university classes.

So next time you babysit, or visit a pre-school, think about reading a book to the kids instead of turning on Dora the Explorer or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.