Let's Read a Story: The Benefits of Reading to Children
For as long as I can remember, I have devoured stories and books. I loved having my parents read to me, and even before I could read myself, I’d hold a book and make up my own story. When I became literate, I’d read to my dolls and stuffed animals or to a group of imaginary school children for whom I was the teacher. For several years in a row, my Mom would bring me to our public library each summer and I’d sign up for its summer reading program. My enthusiasm for literature has only grown along with me.
Needless to say, as a life-long bookworm, I’m eager to teach one of Gryphon’s Leaping Lit classes, which will combine the reading of a children’s story with creative movement. Reading and dance - two of my favorite activities!
I recently completed a free online course that’s offered by Hillsdale College and is titled Classic Children’s Literature. It was completely delightful and enjoyable. The course looked a bit more in-depth at a couple of classic fairy tales as well as the Tales of Beatrix Potter, A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Kenneth Graham’s The Wind in the Willows, among others. We were reminded of the value of these timeless tales and the wisdom they contain for child and adult alike. They inform and expand the imagination and help to shape children’s moral character, teaching them right from wrong, all while engaging them in an entertaining story. These are some reasons why reading to children is vital and important but there are other benefits as well.
From a scientific standpoint, reading to children boosts their language and cognitive development. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises reading to children from infancy.
There is even evidence that reading to your unborn child can “set the foundation for future language development and give your little one her first lesson in speech patterns.” How incredible and beautiful is that!
Reading helps to calm children, strengthens the bond between parent and child, and the pleasant connotations of early reading can turn the child into a life-long reader.
Reading to young ones can enhance their attention spans, teach thinking and listening skills, even potentially raise their IQ and help them to perform better in school. Perhaps surprisingly, there are benefits, such as the introduction of new genres, to reading out loud to your adolescent and teenage kids.
Even as a young adult, I personally still relish reading children’s literature, from picture books to classics like the Chronicles of Narnia and Anne of Green Gables.
[Side note: One excellent resource for parents looking for book ideas to enjoy with their children of all ages is Sarah Mackenzie’s podcast Read-Aloud Revival. She’s a homeschooling mom of six kids and she shares all kinds of awesome book recommendations as well as other insights about books and homeschooling on her podcast, social media, and website. She also has materials for starting your own Family Book Club. She may be a useful wellspring for those parents who unexpectedly find themselves homeschooling during these uncertain pandemic days.]
Clearly, the measurable and immeasurable benefits of reading to children are many. So why did Ms. Abby want to offer book-based classes at Gryphon?
She said, “I wanted to incorporate literature in some dance classes because I am such a bookworm myself. I wanted to combine my two favorite things into one class, and liked the idea of engaging different parts of the brain. I'm hoping the students of Leaping Lit and Belle Ballet will enjoy using their imaginations to make connections between the written word and action.”
If you’d like your little Gryphon to join in all the reading and dancing fun, you can enroll them in our book-based classes here.
Happy Reading and Happy Dancing!
Sources:
https://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/benefits-of-reading-to-children/
https://www.raisesmartkid.com/all-ages/1-articles/14-the-benefits-of-reading-to-your-child.
*Disclaimer: Hyperlinks and links to outside sources, articles, etc. does not constitute an endorsement of those organizations by Gryphon Gymnastics. I personally do recommend Hillsdale and Read-Aloud Revival.