Learn About The Developmental Benefits Of Reading To Infants

By Karina Frost


Books offer even the very youngest children a wealth of stimulation and fundamentals of learning, which is why most experts agree that reading to babies from the very start is very advantageous to their development. Not only does it facilitate their understanding of the world around them, but one of the other benefits of reading to infants is that it also serves as a perfect opportunity to for the parent to bond with the child.

Shortly after birth, parents can begin reading to their new son or daughter. Simply hearing the familiar sound of the parent's voice and snuggling in their arms brings a sense of comfort and security to the baby, which helps create closeness and intimacy between the two.

Although at first, a baby will not have an understanding of what the words mean, the act of introducing these words can contribute a great deal to building a vocabulary. An awareness of the patterns of speech such as inflections, tone, and rhythm will also be picked up by the child as he or she listens. The more words they hear at this age, the easier it will be for them to learn to talk later on.

Besides the obvious connection to developing language skills, reading books to babies has also been found to stimulate their early mathematical and critical thinking abilities. It also helps the child learn to speak at an earlier age, babies who are less exposed to words, are often late talkers. As children gain an understanding of what they hear, they will start to respond in turn by showing enthusiasm.

Stories also introduce children to the abstract concept of emotions and feelings. This is apparent not only on an explicit level in the narrative of the book, but is also implied by the tone of the parent's voice. The significance of the visual aspects of a book should also be acknowledged, as the baby sees various colors, shapes, letters, and patterns, it helps further their sensory and cognitive processes.

Although enjoying a story anytime through the day is good, it can be particularly helpful right before the child's bedtime. The sound of mom's or dad's voice is often conducive to a peaceful night's sleep for the little one, many young children even drift off before the story is finished because they feel so relaxed and secure, and it is the perfect way to calm down following a busy day.

Books selected for an infant need to be suitable for the child's age. The best picks are those which are more or less indestructible, made of materials such as cloth or vinyl or board books, since babies can be tough on them. They should feature simple verses, perhaps rhymes, familiar objects, bright colors, and even different tactile textures for the baby to touch.

Older babies will start to play a more active role in their own storytime as they begin to recognize pictures and sounds. They will point out and name objects, imitate sounds, and show a definite response to what they are hearing. These early literary experiences are essential for instilling a love of books and reading that can last for a lifetime.




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