The Importance of Reading for Kids

Reading is an important habit for children to develop and start early. Not only is reading vital for academic success, but it is also something super enjoyable. Reading is good for everyone and incredibly beneficial for children in many aspects. Let's explore this further below.

Broaden vocabularies

When we read, we come across new words, prompting us to find out what they mean and add them to the vocabulary bank. If the new words are seen more frequently and repeatedly, they will be stored in our memory and become our own words gradually. As parents, we can start with books of children's choice and slowly encourage them to expand their choices. By reading various kinds of books, children will accumulate more vocabulary from broader fields for expressing themselves more accurately and precisely in speaking and writing.

Improve writing skills

It is undeniable that reading is an effective way to improve writing skills. Wisely choose a well-written book where you can acquire sophisticated words, high-quality context and advanced writing skills without knowing you are learning. Some people find that they have read many books but still struggle with writing, and the underlying reason is insufficient reading. It is suggested to read aloud sometimes, as this is a proven method to improve the speaking and writing of a language. Kids with good writing skills tend to be more expressive by using precise words to describe what they want to tell.

Better comprehension

Comprehension is the understanding and interpretation of the article we read. To accurately understand the written material, children have to master sufficient vocabulary, make connections between what they read and what they know, and think deeply about the message that brings out from the passage. In addition, when children acquire an extensive vocabulary and learn more about the world, all these lead to a better understanding of different kinds of articles.

Improve self-learning ability

After reaching a certain level of language proficiency, people can learn anything by reading relevant books. There are countless readers of all kinds of knowledge, enabling us to read and understand by ourselves anything that interests us. Although it is easy to learn from the internet, the information online is too fragmented and difficult to organize. Books, on the other hand, usually focus on a specific aspect of knowledge, avoiding the fragmentation of knowledge.

Improve long-term memory

Reading helps you remember, and surprisingly, it is not limited by specific types of books. As you read to learn new facts and techniques, memory is improved by increasing mental stimulation and allowing new neurons to be produced in the brain. Although many people think that reading non-fiction books is more effective in improving memory, the fact is, reading fiction is just as valuable because you must remember the characters, the setting, the history and the background. All these push the brain to develop memory, relate to what you are reading and remember it. While stimulating your brain, reading strengthens long-term memory and slows down the brain degeneration that comes with age.

Broaden horizons

We can learn about other cultures, innovative ideas and places we've yet to go by reading books. Sitting in a comfortable room and opening a book, we can effortlessly enter the author's field of knowledge and imaginary world. We will see the world through their eyes and perspective, learning about new technologies and discovering other fascinating traditions, cultures, and all the possible future and history of the world. So try to read regularly and choose books of different genres where you can experience and absorb new knowledge about all aspects of life.

Promote empathy

Many studies have proven that reading fiction can increase empathy and compassion. For example, in a study conducted by the Princeton Social Neuroscience Laboratory, psychologists demonstrated that people who regularly read fiction are more likely to understand what people are feeling and thinking. By reading a novel, you become a part of the story and feel all the characters' emotions. This, in turn, makes your mind more aware of how different things affect other people. Ultimately, this improves your ability to empathize with other people.

Readers are leaders

Reading has long been the source of knowledge, imagination, and inspiration. There is a famous saying that "readers are leaders". Most world-class leaders' common habit is reading regularly despite their busy schedules. They claim that reading is one of the most important factors enriching their knowledge and contributing to their success. Verbal intelligence, empathy, and forward-thinking vision, which can be developed from reading, are all associated with being a great leader.

A form of entertainment

Reading allows you to be completely immersed in the author's world, feel the characters' joy and sorrow, and explore the countless unknown mysteries of nature. You may be brought to a beautiful palm-fringed beach, a flat and barren desert or a furious and choppy ocean. A book allows us to time travel and experience what life was in the past and could be in the future. Spend your leisure time reading, as it lets you take a break from stressful reality and find moments of peace and joy.

Reading is an excellent way to exercise our brain, keeping it healthy and productive. It's proved that kids reading at an early age have a better imagination and comprehension of things around them. Reading is also a vital habit to foster in children to shape their personalities. So start encouraging your child to read and make it a habit today! How to start? Read to them first!

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