Why it’s important to make time for reading with your child

Reading is a time-honoured pastime for children and adults alike, but did you know that reading has clear and proven learning benefits for your child? In this article, we are going to look at a few reasons why making time to read with your child, or possibly organising it as an activity to complete with your Juggle Street babysitter, is going to be beneficial.

It helps with vocabulary

Reading is a fantastic way to expose your child to language, which is beneficial both in regards to written and oral language skills. Studies have found that by reading aloud with children, it exposes them to more language complexity as compared to just speaking to children, due to the contents in age-appropriate reading material. Increased vocabulary is going to mean being able to interact with more curriculum materials throughout their schooling journey, an obvious benefit!

It's creative

Engaging your child's creative side is always something that is valuable, and reading appropriate books can be an unparalleled gateway to imagination. Reading can be combined with activities such as coming up with ideas of what happens to the book's characters after the story is over, to gain further creative benefits from reading. By making it into a game of sorts, your child can learn that reading is fun from an early age, as opposed to seeing it as a chore. If you'd like more ideas surrounding how to make reading fun, your Juggle Street nanny is always happy to help.

It's a bonding opportunity

A story is something that can be shared with your child. Through reading a variety of books, together you may develop a 'favourite book', which is something that is a very special bond to have. Even adults relish finding people who have the same favourite book, so imagine that same feeling of sharing the same favourite with your child. Additionally, reading together can be a good rapport building opportunity when beginning with babysitting, or with a new nanny. Your child might perhaps share some of their favourite books with the new nanny, and through that begin to bond.

It teaches moral lessons

"The moral of the story...", is a common phrase used in relation to stories, and especially true in relation to children's stories. Studies have suggested that it is possible for children as young as 5 or 6 years old to understand the lessons that stories teach. That being said, prompts towards those lessons assist significantly in relation to that understanding. Therefore, reading with your child or having this be an activity performed with your Juggle Street babysitter will be of significant benefit to their development.

It sparks interest in specific topics

If your child has become really interested in a specific topic, for example, space, books and reading can be a fantastic way to nurture that interest. Broad topics can be explored through age-appropriate books on the topic, and given more specificity. To use our space example, the more specific subject of the solar system could be looked at, through a book about planets in the solar system. As the child grows older, this interest can be nurtured through slightly more complex topics like telescopes.

Reading is a great activity to engage in with your child, either through yourself or through a Juggle Street babysitter. The benefits include a growing vocabulary, a creativity boost, an opportunity to bond, as well as teaching both moral and direct lessons.

Aim to make your child’s reading routine a fun and enjoyable time together, that you can look forward to each day.