Reading bedtime stories to grandkids more beneficial that you thought
Telling bedtime stories is a special moment you get to share with your children and if you’re lucky, grandchildren. But did you realise that by reading these stories, even something as simple as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you’re significantly fast-tracking a young child’s development?
Recent studies have uncovered some significant data regarding the very real benefits of reading with young children, which are especially relevant when you consider how much time kids spend in front of screens these days. If you want an excuse to read with your grandkids, look no further.
Reading stimulates a child’s creativity
In August a study published in the US journal Paediatrics found significant differences in the brain activation of young children, based on how much they’d been read to at home. Children who had been read to more showed greater levels of activity in the left hemisphere of the brain which is typically associated with creativity. The research suggests that these children may be able to develop skills that will help them create words and images out of words later on in life.
This would be especially useful in any field that requires a large degree of communication, anything from writing a novel to practising law. If your grandkid turns out to be the next Hemingway, that time you read The Cat in the Hat to them might just have something to do with it.
It’s important for kids to hear varied language
This benefit is a little less-known, but it’s critically important for young children to be exposed to as much language as they can be. And it’s so much better for them to hear these words from a human in real life, rather than from a screen. However, that doesn’t mean you should be sitting them in a rocker outside a construction site – that means you should be reading to them as much as possible!
In August, the US journal Psychological Science suggesting that children who are hearing words read to by caregivers are exposed to far more words than those who aren’t. This helps with the development of a child’s vocabulary, which is ultimately beneficial to any field.
Quality time and comforting ritual
Ultimately though the main benefit is one that is enjoy by the listener and the reader. The ability to share quality time with a family member and the importance of this for a child’s development should not be understated. Reading stories aloud to your grandchild allows you to spend amazing one on one time where they really feel as though they’re the centre of your attention.
So the next time you’re reading to your grandkids, take a moment to savour the experience. You’re not just setting them up for success later in life, but you’re also creating an unbreakable bond and precious memories that they will cherish for years to come.