As mothers, the most important activity we can engage in with our kids to prepare them for future academic success is also the most enjoyable and enriching – reading books. A new study from neuroscientist Stanislaus Dehaene indicate that learning to read enhances brain function in older children and adults. Other studies from Bart Boets and his colleagues at the University of Leuven in Belgium show a connection between auditory perception and reading ability.
Scientific Learning – a company that provides educational software to k-12 schools across the United States – sheds some clear light on the importance of a parent’s involvement in preparing their children for success in school. Through their blog post I found these studies and discovered that what I enjoy most is actually going to help my children later on!
There is little I enjoy more than to snuggle up with Lizzie on one side, David on the other, and a big book in front of us, reading page after page. Their favorite books have fun rhythms and after hearing me read in the same way multiple times Lizzie is able to recite them back to me. I can see in front of me the correlation between hearing the book and enhanced brain activity. Child reading development is most definitely spurred along with increased times of reading books together.
Right now, David’s favorite book is “Where the Wild Things Are” and Lizzie’s is anything with a Disney Princess or Pinkalicious. I will read and re-read their books with them – the increased academic performance someday is just icing on the cuddly cake.
If your child is struggling to enjoy reading, I have 4 tips that will help kids love to read! I hope they help you out as much as they helped me.
I have a post about reading as a guest post at LeeAnn’s blog this Saturday. We’ve been reading and having fun with books since day one and my oldest was reading above and 8th grade level in first grade. Obviously he’s an extreme case but its more about his love and willingness to read because books are fun in our house
One of the best things about being a mom is snuggling up with a pile of books!
Oh, we love our bible story books, Sandra Boyton, and our Blessing books that were a gift when our oldest was a baby.
I love reading to my girls (twin 3yr olds) and I let them choose so that they stay interested but my favorites are Eric Carle books. They are artistic, informative and fun. We are currently reading Mister Seahorse and they love it. I also still read word books for really young ones to help with letter and word recognition.
My kids LOVE Eric Carle! In fact, it is from these books that all 3 of my kids learned animal sounds. Nothing like turning the pages of Brown Bear Brown Bear and making the noises 100 billion times for each animal 🙂 I love this stage of life, I really do.