Aahhhh, the endless scientific reasons to read to a three-year-old child are available at the click of a mouse in treasure troves of data, but today let’s talk about some of the other fun stuff.
Have you ever…
- Seen the spark in a child’s eye as you share a story with them? For a moment, the world disappears as they actually stop moving for a few moments, waiting for you to turn the page. Sharing these moments, one can see the beginning of a life-long reader, laying a foundation for their education. Lighting that spark also allows them to see that all books with hard covers and paper pages are worlds waiting to be discovered. True magic!
- After that spark is lit and he/she knows there are adventures in those books, comes the next great moment, “Nana, those words tell the picture?” Yep, the understanding that the words share the story about the picture. Encouraging the connection between the illustrations and word association is a great asset to lay the foundation for actual reading.
- Last reason is the connection. The world is a busy, busy place filled with schedules, emails, tweets, work, groceries, etc. In our technology-driven world, an easy choice is to grab the tablet, pick an education-based app, or put on one of the great shows geared for little people. My grandson has learned so much from some of the education-based shows out there, but that will never replace choosing a book, sitting together on the couch, and sharing a story. For a few minutes in that busy day, the real world disappears. The connection that is created when you read to a child is one to be cherished. He/she will probably forget as they get older but no worries, by then you will have memorized, “BIG A, little a. What begins with A? Aunt Annie’s alligator…” (Dr. Seuss’s ABC).
What are your thoughts and reasons to read to your little one?