During childhood, every experience is a learning experience and a potential step towards growth and development. Reading is one of the best things that a young student can do to develop their mind and performance in the classroom. Reading shapes cognitive, emotional, and social development in many ways. Let’s delve into the aspects of childhood development through the lens of reading.
Literacy Development
Learning how to read begins the very first time a child opens a book. It can be a story book, picture book, or a chapter book. All books lead to a common experience; a development of literature. Through the exposure to written language, young students are able to expand their vocabulary, develop reading and language skills, and enhance their grammar. These fundamental developments affect their language skills overall and lead to greater academic success. Reading at a young age also increases communication skills which is vital for developing young students.
Fostering Creativity
Reading at a young age also fosters creativity to an extent that is unimaginable. Literature is a window into the world of imagination by exposure to mystery, fantasy, and adventure. Literature is full of imagery, narratives, and thematic elements that spark creativity in young students as they learn about the world around them. This helps them explore new ideas and have confidence to imagine the world around them in a unique way.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence is also acquired through reading at a young age. As readers experience plots and characters, they start to understand human emotion, challenges, and hardships. They also experience ways to communicate their emotions as the characters are doing in the books. Reading also fosters compassion as the readers relate and connect with the characters in the novels.
During this time, when everything is digitized, and reading is not as emphasized, it is important to understand the impact that reading has on young children. This will help you decide whether or not you are going to influence your classic kiddo to read!