Learn About The Developmental Benefits Of Reading To Infants

By Karina Frost


Books offer even the very youngest children a wealth of stimulation and fundamentals of learning, which is why most experts agree that reading to babies from the very start is very advantageous to their development. Not only does it facilitate their understanding of the world around them, but one of the other benefits of reading to infants is that it also serves as a perfect opportunity to for the parent to bond with the child.

Even a newborn infant can benefit from having a parent read to him or her at least once each day. The natural closeness of sitting together while sharing a story is an ideal way for the two to become closer. The baby will enjoy hearing the familiar sound of mom's or dad's voice and will also appreciate the cuddling that goes along with it.

Although at first, a baby will not have an understanding of what the words mean, the act of introducing these words can contribute a great deal to building a vocabulary. An awareness of the patterns of speech such as inflections, tone, and rhythm will also be picked up by the child as he or she listens. The more words they hear at this age, the easier it will be for them to learn to talk later on.

In addition to boosting a young child's rudimentary language skills, it has also been connected to stimulating their critical thinking and mathematical skills. Children who are read to often from infancy on, have been shown to speak earlier and have a better grasp of linguistic concepts than those who are seldom read to. Eventually, as the baby gains an understanding of the sounds and pictures, he or she will begin to respond with interest and excitement.

Listening to a book being read is a good way for babies to begin to understand what emotions are as well, as there hear about the feelings story characters have relating to their experiences. This can effectively help materialize this abstract concept for young listeners. The visual aspects of a book such as letters, shapes, patterns, and colors, are also beneficial to the baby's sensory and cognitive development.

Although enjoying a story anytime through the day is good, it can be particularly helpful right before the child's bedtime. The sound of mom's or dad's voice is often conducive to a peaceful night's sleep for the little one, many young children even drift off before the story is finished because they feel so relaxed and secure, and it is the perfect way to calm down following a busy day.

Books selected for an infant need to be suitable for the child's age. The best picks are those which are more or less indestructible, made of materials such as cloth or vinyl or board books, since babies can be tough on them. They should feature simple verses, perhaps rhymes, familiar objects, bright colors, and even different tactile textures for the baby to touch.

Parents will notice that eventually, the child will start to participate more during storytime, as he or she becomes increasingly aware of the world around. Older babies will imitate sounds, identify objects, and respond to what he or she hears. These early literary experiences set the stage for the child's future love of books and independent reading habits.




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