12 Benefits of Reading to Your Grandchildren/Children

The library.

I cannot believe how much pleasure a four-year-old and a two-year-old can derive from a visit to the public library.  They talk about it.  They look forward to it.  They count down by constantly asking, “What time is it?” each and every Friday morning.

I love our new tradition.  It’s something the kids look forward to.  It’s absolutely FREE!  It’s a calm activity.  (Don’t get me wrong.  I enjoy a little excitement and “wild and crazy”),  but by Friday morning, I’m usually ready for some calm.

Our visits are also so very good for the children.  Did you know?

When you read with your grandchildren, they derive these benefits:

• A sense of intimacy and well-being. As you read to your grandchildren you are creating bonds with them that lead to a sense of security.
• Develop a positive attitude towards reading as they grow up.
• A feeling of calm, especially when he/she is fretful and restless.
• Increased communication between the two of you.
• Better performance in school. Preschool children who are exposed to language by hearing words that are read to them and in conversation tend to do better in school.
• Reading basics. Preschool children and even babies who are read to learn early the basics of reading a book (that words represent sounds and concepts, words are read from left to write, and stories continue when you flip the page).
• Longer attention span. Reading to children can help promote a longer attention span which is an important skill for concentration and performance.
• Builds listening skills and imagination.
• The discovery of an expanding chain of knowledge. Your young grandchildren learn about colors, shapes, numbers, and letters.  The older grandchildren discover increased knowledge on topics of interest to them.
• Development of thinking skills. When you read to your grandchild, he/she learns to understand cause and effect, they learns to exercise logic and to think in abstract terms.
• Anxiety relief. When your grandchildren reach a new stage in their growth, or experience a new and unfamiliar situation, reading to them about a story relevant to this new experience can relieve anxiety and help them cope. For example, if your grandchild is stressed about his/her first day in school, or about moving to a new location, you can read a book together that shows that these should not be painful experiences.
• Reading is fun! When you fill your home with books, read aloud to your grandchildren, and engage in reading focused activities such as visiting your local library, your grandchild learn early that reading is fun; not a dreaded chore.

So go ahead, grandma.  Grab a book and curl up with your grandchild to enjoy a few moments of reading together.  Or better yet, grab your coats and head on out to your local library.