A lot of people work out to keep their body fit, but how do you keep your mind fit, young, and awake even when we get old? Scientists have answered this question with “Reading”, it’s the key to having a young brain, in addition to keeping us away from Alzheimer.
Opening a whole universe of knowledge and fun, reading is your gate to the adventures that reveal a lot of interesting information about the world. This is why motivating your child to read since a young age will help them grow up to be enlightened.
Only 15 minutes daily of reading will keep your quality time with your child, initiating an emotional bond that lasts. It also motivates your child to be more open-minded, imaginative, and adventurous. Raising a child that is ready to explore the world around, including learning to speak, read, and form rich sentences.
The importance of reading to your child
A little pot is soon hot, the earlier you start to familiarize your children with reading the better his knowledge and attachment to reading will grow big with them. Some of the benefits of reading to your child, and encouraging them to read on their own too are:
- It enriches their vocabulary.
- Reading triggers your child’s creative side of the brain.
- It brings up an educated and aware child.
- Opens up a world of possibilities.
- Prevents Alzheimer later on.
- Encourages your child to learn new languages and cultures.
How to encourage your child to learn?
Read to them since day 1
Researches have proved that children who get exposed to reading by their parents tend to smarter and fast-learners than the other children. At first, your child won’t comprehend what you’re reading to them, then they will start to explore the pages to link the story in their minds.
Your child will start to learn more about the outside world through your eyes, your stories, and what you read to them. This links the words and how it sounds in your child’s mind at the first few months of his life, then your child will mumble these sounds to imitate you once he reaches his first year. At the age of two, your child will start to pronounce simple words creating their first vocabulary list on their own.
So, since day one and till your child is 18 months, they can:
- Turn pages and try to explore.
- Watch you read.
- Realize that words have sounds.
From 18 months and up to 3 years old, your child can:
- Pronounce up to 300 words out loud at the age of 18 months, and up to 1000 words when they turn 3 years old.
- Absorb knowledge from the books you read to them.
- Hold the book right.
- Form correct phrases.
You should read too!
It’s amazing how your child will imitate you in the first 5-8 years of their lives, they will always try to copy what you say, how you speak, what you do, and what do you like, so using this in your favor will be a piece of cake. If you’re a vicious reader, your kill will notice how your quality time with your brain is you holding a book. Normally, he or she will start to do the same, this is when you suggest books that suits their age and increases their knowledge.
Listen to your child
When you get your quality time with your kid, you start an emotional bond that helps you navigate the reading process to their interests. For example, after chatting with your kid, you noticed that they like Dinosaurs, this opens up a great opportunity for you to buy animals’ encyclopedias, short stories, and more.
Make it a habit
Linking reading with quality time at first will encourage your child to read, it’s when their mom is paying attention to them to discuss new interesting topics. Each one of you could choose a random book that suits your ages, pick a calm corner at your home, and start your noise-free time. Then, you both can summarize the books you have read to each other.