January 23rd is National Reading Day, the perfect opportunity to reflect on the powerful connection between reading and language development. Sharing books with children isn’t just a brilliant bonding experience; it’s also one of the best ways to nurture their communication skills.
Why Reading Matters for Language Development
Children’s books are filled with features that encourage early literacy and help children tune into the sounds of language. For instance:
- Repetition: Children thrive on repetition—it helps them learn and remember new words.
- Rhythm: Many children’s books have a natural ‘beat’ that makes language fun and engaging.
- Rhyme: Rhyming words (like in Julia Donaldson’s classics) helps children to notice the different and similar sounds in words.
These elements help to develop a child’s phonological awareness; the ability to notice the differences and similarities of the sounds in words. Phonological awareness, in turn, supports a child to be able to speak clearly.
Proven Benefits of Reading
Research from BookTrust, a national charity promoting access to books, shows that early and regular reading supports:
- Vocabulary development (learning more words).
- Comprehension (understanding word meanings).
- Spoken language (forming sentences and communicating clearly).
Books also provide a visual context to support language learning. For instance, while reading “A mouse took a stroll through the deep, dark wood,” the accompanying pictures help children connect the words to their meanings.
Reading Tips for Parents and Caregivers
If you want to maximize the benefits of reading with your child, here’s how to make the most of storytime:
- Read daily: Even a short session can make a big difference. If you’re pressed for time, prioritise reading—it’s one of the most effective ways to support language skills and academic success.
- Sit face-to-face: This helps you and your child connect through facial expressions, pointing, and eye contact and means you can see what they’re looking at or what facial expressions they’re making.
- Don’t stress about the text: If the language is too advanced, talk about the pictures or simplify the story.
- Make it engaging: Add gestures, voices, or sound effects to bring the story to life and hold your child’s attention.
Follow their interests: Choose books that match your child’s passions, whether it’s a favorite character or interactive features like flaps and textures.
Accessible and Affordable Reading
Providing books doesn’t have to be expensive! Local libraries are a wonderful, free resource for everyone. Plus, they often have events and activities to inspire young readers.Find out more about BookTrust and their fantastic resources here.