The Power of Reading: How Parents Can Foster a Love of Learning

Dr. Seuss said it best:

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.“

Reading helps to develop a myriad of skills, including vocabulary, language patterns, and thinking skills. And although preschool programs won’t expect your child to be able to read prior to coming to the classroom, if your child has already established a love for books, they’ll be well ahead of the curve.

There are so many ways to encourage early reading skills and a love of reading:

1. Don’t stop reading once your child can read independently! This is your opportunity to broaden their worlds by introducing new ideas and interests.

2. Make nightly reading sessions part of the bedtime routine.

3. Join your local public library and borrow books by the armload.

4. Choose books that spark interest. If you notice your little one has been talking about a certain topic or has shown interest in something new, find a book that you can explore together!

5. YouTube is a treasure trove of read-aloud books to enjoy together. Here are a few amazing picks:

Ten little fingers and ten little toes by Mem Fox

Llama, llama red pyjama by Anna Dewdney

Goodnight Gorilla byPeggy Ratham

Strictly no elephants by Lisa Mantchev

The Selfish Crocodile by Faustin Charles