Why Should I Read Aloud to My Child?

by Donna Wine

I am often asked by parents, "How can I help my child be a better reader?" Part of my answer always includes, "Read aloud to him or her." Why is reading aloud so important? Because children learn so many things when books are read aloud to them.

First, they learn the structure of stories. Stories have a beginning and an end. Stories have problems, conflicts, and solutions. Stories have characters that children can relate to or understand through their emotions.

Reading stories aloud helps children use their imagination. They can see situations from various viewpoints. Children can observe people or places that are not a part of their environment through stories. They can "choose their own adventure" through books.

Building a child's background knowledge is a huge benefit of reading aloud. Your child will gain a wealth of knowledge about all kinds of subjects as you read aloud to her. Her vocabulary and understanding of how words work will increase. When she encounters similar information at school, she can make the connection to what was read previously. Connecting the information improves her reading comprehension.

So reading aloud has many benefits. I hope you'll set aside a specific time in your family's schedule to read aloud to your child. By doing so, you'll help her become a better reader and send the message that reading is important.