The Benefits of Reading (& Being Read to) at Different Ages

When it comes to reading—or even being read to—it’s never too early to start. That’s because the benefits of reading are plentiful, and they can continue to provide advantages later in life, well into adulthood. Here are just some of the many ways books can improve a child’s brain skills, creativity, language, and emotional intelligence: 

Pre-Readers 

Books to choose:

Focus on picture books with bright colors, touchable pages, and simple stories.

Benefits of Being Read To:

• Bonding: Reading to infants and toddlers provides an opportunity for bonding, which creates positive feelings of attachment and a sense of security.
• Vocabulary: According to research published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, children who are not read to at home in the first five years are estimated to experience a “million-word gap.” That’s because parents (or other caregivers in the home) who read one picture book with their children each day provide exposure to approximately 78,000 words a year. That is a cumulative 1.4 million more words before kindergarten.
• Language development: Babies can learn the sounds and rhythms of speech by listening to caregivers read aloud. Choose age-appropriate books that keep babies and toddlers engaged with rhyming, onomatopoeia, and easy-to-understand stories to develop these foundational verbal and auditory skills.
• Brain and cognitive development: Reading to babies and toddlers helps develop neural pathways, boost processing speed, and introduce concepts, such as shapes, colors, numbers, and letters.

Early Readers

Books to choose:

Opt for books with simple, large fonts, repetitive language, bold illustrations, and engaging storylines with relatable characters.

Benefits of Reading & Being Read To:

• Cognitive development: Reading can help build critical brain skills, such as thinking, problem-solving, memory, attention, and decision-making.
• Imagination: By exploring new concepts and imaginary worlds, early readers can expand their creativity and create associations to real-world concepts.
• Social-emotional skills: Reading allows children to learn different perspectives and develop empathy for the emotions of the characters.
• Expanded views: By learning about different people, places, and cultures, children can expand their worldview beyond just their home, school, or community.
• Conflict resolution: Seeing how characters react to and resolve conflict teaches students skills that they can use in their own lives.
• Confidence: Reading independently helps build self-esteem. It can also help with confidence as children progress in other subjects as they shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn” (typically around third grade).

Independent Readers  

Books to choose:

Beyond just finding topics and characters that appeal to your child, you’ll need to consider their reading level. Books that are too easy can quickly bore a child, while reading that is too difficult can lead to them abandoning the book in frustration. 

Try using the Five-Finger Rule. Just have your child read a page from any book and hold up a finger for every word they can’t pronounce or don’t know. By the time they get to the end of the page, you’ll ideally want to see two to three fingers in the air. Any fewer and the book is probably too easy. Any more and the book is probably too challenging. 

Benefits of Reading:

• Motivation: Children who can read on their own are more likely to enjoy it and continue reading.
• Writing skills: Reading independently can help develop writing skills.
• Mental wellness: Reading for pleasure significantly reduces stress and decreases anxiety.
• Better test scores: Children who read independently tend to have better vocabulary and reading comprehension and fluency compared to their peers who don’t read on their own. This combination of skills, combined with an accumulation of general knowledge, often results in higher scores on achievement tests.
• Sustained attention: Immersing yourself in a book helps build sustained attention skills, which transfers to other tasks, such as studying, doing homework, or playing an instrument. 
• Analytical skills: Readers of any age interpret books through the lens of their own values, identities, and experiences, but books that provide new perspectives and information can help challenge any built-in prejudices, beliefs, and theories. By analyzing new information and using critical thinking, students can expand their world view and create an openness to learning and change.

Not sure which books are right for your baby, toddler, or child? Ask your local librarian for recommendations or check your favorite online bookstore’s recommendations based on age!

What If Your Child is Stressed Out By Reading?

If you have one of those kids who says reading is “boring,” that they “hate it,” or that avoids reading at all costs, it’s important to dig deeper. All of these are signals of reading struggles rooted in weak cognitive skills.
If kids are struggling with decoding, comprehension, or any core reading skill in between, of course reading is going to be hard (and not as enjoyable for them). Don’t let reading struggles continue! The longer you wait to intervene, the harder it is to gain ground. Learn more about our science-based reading program that has helped thousands of struggling readers find success here >>