Why Reading to Your Child Is So Important

Why Reading to Your Child Is So Important

Your baby’s brain is amazing: between birth and the age of three, more than a million neural pathways are formed per second. And one of the best ways to support your baby’s cognitive, social, and linguistic development is also the easiest—reading. This simple act is one of the most powerful forms of enrichment you can provide, laying the groundwork for virtually every aspect of their future learning.

Building storytime into your child’s everyday routine nurtures healthy brain connections, prepares them for academic success, and encourages a lifelong love of reading.

Why Is Reading to Your Child Every Day So Important?

Immersing your child in books and daily reading fosters literacy and creates a love of learning that’s more likely to last for their lifetime. The more children are exposed to reading, the better they’re able to make sense of the world around them and communicate effectively. Here are some of the benefits of reading to your little one from day one.

• Speech and language development. Reading to your child enriches their language development on many levels: introducing new words increases their vocabulary, promotes your baby repeating sounds, and familiarizes your child with the rhythms of language. They also learn about narrative structure—the concept that stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end—which is a critical pre-reading skill. This exposure creates a rich "language database" in their brain that they will draw upon when they start to speak and, later, to write.
• Builds empathy and emotional intelligence. Reading stories gives children the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of someone else, and lets them see characters deal with big emotions. Seeing a character feel sad or angry reinforces the idea that experiencing feelings is normal, and gives your little one a chance to talk about their own feelings, too. This process helps them develop a "theory of mind," the understanding that others have different thoughts and feelings than their own. By discussing a character's motivations, you are giving your child the vocabulary to understand and express their own complex emotional world.
• Encourages creativity and imagination. Research has shown that reading out loud to your toddler or preschooler activates areas of the brain supporting mental imagery and narrative comprehension. Your little one is putting their imagination to work to craft an understanding of the story being told. Unlike passive screen time, reading requires the brain to actively create the visual world of the story, strengthening its capacity for abstract thought. This is the mental muscle that fuels innovation, problem-solving, and artistic expression later in life.
• Strengthens bonding. Having story time everyday with your child isn’t just about the reading—it’s a time to connect with your child and totally focus on them, without any distractions. This dedicated time, free from phones and to-do lists, fills your child's emotional cup and creates a secure attachment. The physical closeness of snuggling with a book releases oxytocin, the "love hormone," cementing your bond and creating a powerful positive association with reading.
• Promotes school readiness. Reading to your child improves their listening skills, boosts reading comprehension, and builds the foundation of literacy. Children who are read to regularly often have a significant advantage when they enter school, not just in literacy but in their ability to pay attention and follow instructions. They have had thousands of hours of practice listening to and processing information.
• Builds cognitive function. Hearing words read aloud builds neural pathways essential for literacy, proper language use, and problem solving. It also improves your child’s memory and helps increase the amount of time they’re able to focus on tasks. When you ask, "What do you think will happen next?" you are actively developing their prediction and inference skills. The repetition of favorite stories helps solidify memory patterns and makes complex information easier to process.

Should You Read Print Books or E-Books?

When reading to babies, toddlers, and young children, it’s best to read print books whenever possible. Early research demonstrates that toddlers are less engaged and have fewer interactions with parents when reading from a screen and not the print version. Why is engagement important? It’s the “serve and return” between a child and their caregiver that builds neural connections and boosts communication skills.  E-books, with their buttons, sounds, and animations, can cause the child and parent to focus more on manipulating the device than on the story and each other. The conversation often becomes about the technology ("push that button") rather than the narrative ("where is the bear going?").

Reading from a device is still more beneficial than not reading at all, so don’t fret if your story time involves a screen. If you do use e-books, try to turn off as many distracting "bells and whistles" as possible to keep the focus on the story and your interaction.

How to Raise a Reader

You are your child’s first teacher, and reading to them is the single most important activity you can do to promote overall healthy cognitive development. These are our tips for incorporating reading into your daily routine and encouraging a love of books that lasts a lifetime.

• Start early. While it may feel silly reading to a newborn, start reading aloud at birth. Though your infant may not seem to understand the story, your baby enjoys hearing the sound of your voice, and exposing your baby to more words directly impacts future language development and literacy. Think of it as bathing your baby in language. Every word you say strengthens the auditory processing centers in their brain.
• Make reading a part of your daily routines. Children thrive with predictable routines, and incorporating reading into naptime and bedtime routines is an easy way to make reading something your little one looks forward to.  This creates a powerful cue for their brain that it's time to wind down, making bedtime easier while also associating books with feelings of comfort and security.
• Read everywhere. You don’t have to stick to books exclusively—read road signs, billboards, the names of businesses. Take any opportunity you can on everyday adventures with your little one to explore letters and language. This shows your child that reading isn't just something that happens in a chair at bedtime; it's a vital, active part of navigating the world.
• Build your own library. Surround your child with developmentally appropriate books that are easily accessible. Encourage your baby (once mobile) to explore their books, and read anything they show interest in. Place books in baskets on the floor in multiple rooms so they are just as easy to grab as any toy. A home rich in books sends a clear message that reading is valued and fun.
• Read with expression! Changing your pitch, varying how quickly you read, and adding emphasis to certain words will make storytime more engaging and encourage interaction. Don't be afraid to use silly voices for different characters or make the animal sounds. Your enthusiasm is contagious and is what brings the story to life.
• Be a reader yourself. Let your child see you reading everyday—even if it’s just a newspaper or recipe. Watching you enjoy reading will encourage them to model your behavior. When your child sees that reading is a source of pleasure and information for you, they will naturally want to imitate that behavior. This is far more powerful than simply telling them that reading is important.

The Power of Dialogic Reading

"Dialogic reading" is a research-backed technique that transforms you from a reader to your child into a conversational partner with your child about the book. It’s one of the most effective ways to boost language skills. The core idea is to follow the "PEER" method as you read:

• Prompt your child to say something about the book. (e.g., Point to a picture and ask, "What is that?")
• Evaluate their response. (e.g., "That's right, it's a dog!")
• Expand on their response by adding more information. (e.g., "Yes, it's a big, fluffy, brown dog.")
• Repeat the prompt to help them learn the new information. (e.g., "Can you say 'big, fluffy dog'?")

For toddlers, this can be as simple as asking "What do you see?" on each page and expanding on whatever they point to. This technique turns them from a passive listener into an active participant in telling the story.

Choosing the Right Book for the Right Stage

A library filled with developmentally appropriate books is key. Here’s what to look for:

• Diversity and Representation: Choose books that feature characters from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and family structures. It is crucial for children to see both themselves (mirrors) and others (windows) in the stories they read.
• Rich Illustrations: Look for books with clear, engaging, and beautiful artwork. For babies, this might be high-contrast images, while toddlers appreciate detailed pictures that offer lots to talk about.
• Engaging Language: Select books with rhythmic, rhyming, or repetitive text. This predictability is comforting and helps children participate in the reading.
• Durability: For little hands, choose sturdy board books, fabric books, or vinyl bath books that can withstand being grabbed, chewed on, and loved.

Tips for Reading to Babies Under Six Months Old

While infants aren’t aware of what pictures and words in a book mean, they are able to focus on them—especially high contrast patterns, vibrant colors, and faces. Babies love being held and are comforted by your voice, so any time spent reading is also an opportunity for bonding.

• Choose high contrast books. Black and white images are more likely to engage young babies, whose vision is still developing.
• Encourage exploration. Babies learn through exploring the world around them, and that means using all their senses. Books with multi-sensory components—like soft fabric, interesting textures, or things that crinkle or squeak—are most interesting to infants. And because babies are going to stick everything in their mouths, fabric books are a great (and durable) option.
• Get cuddly. Snuggling up with your baby’s favorite blanket or lovey and getting cozy will make story time something they really look forward to.
• Watch your audience. Your baby may not pay attention to the whole story, and that’s totally okay. If they start getting bored, you’ll know: if they’re arching their back, looking away, or beginning to fuss, take a break.
• Track the words with your finger. As you read, trace the text with your finger. This small action helps your baby's brain begin to connect the sounds you are making with the abstract shapes on the page.

Tips for Reading to Babies 6-12 Months Old

Your baby has hit a lot of important development milestones by their half birthday, and will begin participating in story time, making sounds, grabbing for your book, and responding to stories with familiar routines and objects.

• Choose board books. Older babies are able to easily grab and manipulate chunky board books, and by their first birthday will be able to help you turn board book pages.
• Pick books with pictures and simple words. Your baby is beginning to understand that pictures represent objects. Look for books with realistic pictures and simple words that explain the illustration or photograph.
• Encourage sound mimicry. Your baby will begin to interact with what they’re being read—they’ll likely begin to point and make sounds. Mirroring your baby and mimicking their sounds will keep them interested in story time and help build foundational language skills.
• Emphasize rhythms and rhymes. Books with rhymes and repetitive phrases are more apt to keep your baby’s attention.
• Begin asking questions. Around your baby’s first birthday, start asking your baby simple questions about illustrations and pictures, such as, “Where is the moon?” Then wait and see if your baby gestures towards your book.
• Connect the book to their world. If you see a picture of a ball, point and say, "Look, a ball! Just like your red ball." This helps them form connections between the two-dimensional world of the book and their three-dimensional life.

Tips for Reading to Toddlers

Your toddler needs to move, so if they need to get up and shake some sillies out during story time, don’t sweat it! Keep reading—they’re still listening, and may even come back to the book once they’re able to refocus.

• Introduce longer stories. Toddlers are able to focus longer and understand more complex plots. Add non-fiction books to story time—toddlers are working hard to understand the world around them, and books with reality-based stories (about what doctors do, or about the seasons and weather, for example) will help them understand what they’re observing in their everyday lives.
• Observe their interests. Your toddler will start demonstrating preferences, and it’s best to follow them—if they like trucks or animals, incorporate those books into your library. Not only is it fun to see their blossoming personality, it also keeps reading from feeling like a chore.
• Encourage their curiosity. Toddlers are eager to engage with story time, and there are endless ways to encourage them to flex their brain power. Try connecting illustrations to sounds—if you see a cow, point to it and wait to see if your little one responds with “Moo!”. Use books with pictures of facial expressions to practice labeling emotions. Encourage them to create their own story based on what they’re looking at, or if you’re on your tenth reread, pause at the end of a sentence to see if they’ll fill in the missing word.
• Begin gently “correcting” your toddler’s speech. If your baby mispronounces a word that you’ve read, avoid correcting it by saying, “No, that’s not quite right, try it this way.” Instead, simply repeat the word back to them correctly—this positive reinforcement encourages communication instead of shutting it down.
• Reread their favorites. Chances are your toddler will have a favorite book, and if they want to read it ten times a day, say yes! When your kiddo is excited for a book, you’ll have more opportunities to interact and create organic teachable moments.
• Head to the library. Public libraries are a wonderful resource for parents: there are story times for your little one, librarians on hand to offer advice on books that are ideal for your little one’s age and stage, and best of all, your child has the opportunity to pick their own books.
• Act out the story. If the characters are hopping, hop around the room together. If they are whispering, lean in and whisper the words. This physical engagement helps cement the story in their minds and caters to their need for movement.

Common Reading Challenges & How to Solve Them

Even with the best intentions, you may hit a few roadblocks. Here’s how to navigate them:

• The Wiggly Child Who Won't Sit Still: This is the #1 challenge, and it's completely normal. Don't force them to sit. Let them stand, wiggle, or even play with a quiet toy while you read. Their ears are still open, and you're still creating a positive, low-pressure reading environment.
• The "One Book" Obsession: Your toddler wants to read the same book over and over... and over. Embrace it! This repetition is incredibly beneficial for their learning. They are mastering the vocabulary, memorizing the cadence, and gaining confidence from knowing what comes next. To save your sanity, you can say, "Yes, we'll read Goodnight Moon, and then let's let the new library book have a turn."
• The Book Destroyer: Babies and toddlers explore with their mouths and hands, which can lead to torn pages and chewed corners. Instead of getting frustrated, see this as a sign to focus on more durable options like board books, fabric books, and vinyl books. For paper books, save them for supervised, one-on-one lap reading.

Reading is the Secret for Raising Smart Kids

Reading with your little one—no matter their age—supports their cognitive development, builds a foundation for language, and creates beneficial reading habits that will have a positive impact over the course of their lives. It’s also a special time to connect and bond with your child, and most importantly, have a little fun! Remember, the goal is to make reading an enjoyable and meaningful activity for your child. Incorporating these tips into your daily story time will help you raise a reader who loves and appreciates the wonder of books. More than anything, reading together tells your child, "You have my full attention." And that is worth its weight in gold.