Make time to read to your child

When you think about reading to your child, you likely think about being cozied up for bedtime with your rather young child, snuggled under the covers reading a not-too-long picture book. It’s a terrific ritual! But don’t limit your reading to your child at bedtime, and don’t limit reading to the young child. Reading to our kids has value in terms of literacy development well past the toddler years.

Reading aloud is critical for literacy development. Study after study tells us that. Reading to our children at a young age is an important pre-reading activity for their young minds. It helps not only with language development, but also with overall brain and idea development. That doesn’t stop when your child masters the ABCs. No matter the age of your children, reading to them is a wonderful family — and learning — activity.

Older kids, too

Reading to your kids is not just for the preschool set — and just because your child can read (and read) well on their own doesn’t mean your job as a designated reader is done. Older kids — fourth, fifth and sixth graders and older! — still benefit from listening to a parent read aloud. Books with more complex language structure, rich vocabulary and serious subject matter are perfect for reading to and with an older child. Not only does it help further evolve a child’s literacy, but it opens up paths for communication between you.

Not just at bedtime

Reading at bedtime is a wonderful sleepy time ritual, but take the reading aloud out of the bedroom. Oh, keep reading at bedtime — but read aloud at other times of the day, too. Try reading aloud to your kids at the breakfast table. They may be a little groggy (heck, maybe you are, too), but hearing the words of that classic book you are sharing with them helps awaken their minds so they are ready for the school day.

Read longer

You know the reading guidelines say read to your child for 20 minutes a day — but when was the last time you actually did? Chores and activities get in the way, and if you sat on your child’s bed that long at the end of a busy day, you’d like be snoring before she is! But length of reading is important, so get a cup of tea and set a timer and make sure you read to your child for at least 20 minutes day, if not more. Or for significantly longer a few times a week. It will make a difference for both of you, both in terms of the books you will be reading together and in terms very high quality bonding time.

Try chapter books

You don’t have to get through a whole book in a sitting each time you read to your child. Introduce chapter books early for a continuity in your reading over many days or even weeks, and you’ll both want to get back to reading together to see what happens next. This is a great way to introduce classic literature to your child! Moby Dick, here you come!

More on reading

5 Book series to read with your kids
15 Top books for preschoolers, kids and teens
7 Books to read aloud to your tween or teen