#importanceofreading

In addition to being a fun pastime for children, learning to read is also a critical component of both physical and cognitive development. Not only does practicing reading enhance brain development among children, but it can also boost their social skills and academic success. Maintaining strong reading skills throughout life also has the potential to improve a child's communication skills and strengthen relationships with others. Whether kids are reading for pleasure or educational purposes, reading can help children grow into successful students throughout their academic careers and beyond. Here are eight additional reasons to encourage your child to read.

1. Reading boosts brain power

Reading is one of the best ways to not only stimulate your child's imagination but also their brain. When kids practice reading, it helps to improve mental alertness, memory, and problem-solving skills. Reading also enhances creativity and imagination while strengthening concentration and focus. As a result, reading has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in children, (especially those who might have ADHD).

2. Reading strengthens social skills

Believe it or not, reading together as a family or alone can actually help strengthen a child’s connections with family members, and can help build stronger relationships with peers and other adults.  As children foster social connections, their social skills will continue to develop and mature.

3. Reading leads to increased academic success

Reading has been shown to have a lasting impact on children's academic performance. This is because reading helps children retain information, which is vital when it comes to success in school and in life. As kids are introduced to new concepts through books or other forms of literature, their communication skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities will all improve. These are all important aspects of academic performance.

4. Encouraging children to read can help them become better writers

One study found that kids between the ages of three and five years old who were exposed to reading on a regular basis were more likely to excel in the areas of writing, spelling, and vocabulary as compared with kids who didn't engage in reading until they were older.

5. Reading is a great way for kids to escape and entertain themselves

Children can become bored or restless when they're in situations where they feel like they're restricted from doing what they want to do. This is why it's important to encourage your child to read and explore all different types of literature. Through reading, kids can learn about the world around them through engaging stories and interesting characters.

One study found that simply having books within reach helped reduce boredom among kindergarteners by 30%. So instead of relying solely on technology and electronic gadgets to keep your little one entertained,   encourage them to pick up a book and read instead.

6. Reading can help improve vocabulary

As children read, they're likely to encounter unfamiliar words or expressions from time to time, especially if they’re reading a particularly advanced book for their age. In cases like this, the simple act of looking up a word in the dictionary and then using it in a sentence will help improve their overall vocabulary and communication skills.

7. Reading encourages kids to exercise their imaginations

When children read about something that interests them, they can use their imagination to visualize the plot and characters, and feel like they are part of the story. When children stretch their imaginations during reading, it encourages creativity and enhances their storytelling abilities, which can be helpful not only in the classroom but throughout their lives.

8. Reading helps children develop empathy

Learning how to empathize and relate to other people's feelings is a crucial component of one’s social-emotional skills. It is through reading that children can get in touch with their emotions and develop empathy for the characters in the stories. This can help them have a better understanding of other people's perspectives or circumstances, while also gaining a broader sense of the world around them.

Reading is a crucial component of each child’s overall development. Not only is it an enjoyable activity that can keep your child entertained for hours, but it’s also a great way to enhance academic performance.