Why You Should Start Reading to Your Child as Soon as They are Born

It's never too early to start reading to your children. I began reading to mine the day they were born, and now, at ages 11 and 7, they have great language skills and are fantastic readers.

According to Jim Trelease, author of the Read Aloud Handbook, no matter what your baby's age, reading provides a great opportunity for cuddling and bonding. Some of my fondest memories with my kids are of rocking them in the rocking chair and reading some of the "classic" stories to them. They can't fuss at that age and can't complain about what you are reading to them. This is the rare time where YOU get to pick out the book and only read it once. Enjoy it!

Besides some fun bonding time - here are some of the top reasons why you read to your children as soon as they are born. Now that I think about it, the very first thing I did with my daughter (she must have only been about an hour old) was tell her the story of Cinderella. Then I had to tell her the story of the Wizard of Oz. What fun we had!

Why You Should Read to Your Child From Birth

-Helps your child develop speaking, writing, and reading skills much easier and earlier.

-Helps build your child's vocabulary - Children who are read to pick up on the words they hear frequently.

-Stimulates your child's imagination - Children love to predict what is going to happen in a story. You can also read books to them that have no pictures. Let them imagine what the places in the book look like.

-Improves your child's communication skills.

-Encourages your child's listening skills.

-Gives your child a strong reading foundation - listening to stories trains your child's brain, ears and eyes to help them be successful readers.

-Improves concentration, creativity and listening skills.

It is also essential to keep reading with your child once they have begun to read on their own. Many parents stop reading to and with their kids once the child is able to read on their own. Kids still love to be read to, don't miss out on this special time with your child. Reading is a mastered skill and requires lots of practice over time. By sharing books together with your child, you will help develop them into lifelong readers.

Happy Reading!