Why is it important for my children to read?
Reading broadens vocabulary, trains attention and helps children understand others. And the habit spreads more through example than through obligation.
Reading is much more than a school subject. A child who enjoys reading has a tool that will help them learn anything else, as well as a way to rest, to imagine and to put themselves in other people's shoes.
What it brings
- Language. More words and more ways of saying things.
- Sustained attention, ever more valuable in a world full of fast stimulation.
- Understanding others. Stories let them live through emotions and situations they have not yet experienced.
- School performance in every subject.
- Calm. Reading before bed helps them wind down.
How to encourage it
Read aloud to them, even once they can read on their own. Let them choose: comics, magazines and books about animals are reading too. Visit the library, keep books in view and set aside time every day without screens.
What to avoid
Turning reading into a punishment or a condition for getting something else, and making them finish a book they do not like. If they see us reading, they will understand that it is worthwhile.