Why Reading Books With Young Kids Promotes Learning and Bonding

Jackie Kennedy once said, “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” 

But experts disagree on how to inculcate this love of books into our childrens’ worlds. Nowadays there are many mediums for encouraging early literacy. 

Toddlers love “real” books
The Michigan Health Lab shares a study in favor of cuddling up with your toddler and reading an old-fashioned print book. Researchers observed interactions of 72 parents reading to their toddlers.

According to the study, parents of children ages two to three years old interacted more with their little ones more when the bedtime story was a traditional book, as opposed to a Kindle or other digital book format.

Scholastic reports how University of Pennsylvania Fellow, Julia Parish-Morris, observed that digital book sessions with little kids are often more about the technology and less about the book. 

In other words, the distraction of technology may cause parents to lose out on critical bonding time. 

Print book interactions by contrast, focus purely on the snuggle and the story! Plus young children are tactile so they love a book they can hear, see and touch.

Digital readers can boost early literacy
When it comes to your elementary-school-aged budding reader, however, keep print story time an option, but don’t worry about introducing an e-reader as well.

Elementary school kids still benefit from bonding with parents over print stories. On the other hand, digital readers may be exciting to these older children too, and may boost early literacy skills.

University of Akron’s Digital Text Initiative director, Jeremy Scott Brueck, tested this thesis by giving his preschool students a book to read. He found about a third knew all the words in the story. 

He then reintroduced the story with an interactive digital reader. After students read the book again, 54% were able to recognize the words in the story. Not only that, but Brueck found that students were really engaged because of the e-reader’s interactive features. 

According to Napa Valley teacher Kim Floyd, her kindergarten students liked using tablets to read and seeing words light up as they read. Students using reading apps increased their vocabulary by some 200 words! 

At the end of the day, for people of all ages, human connection trumps both print and digital media. 

Reading with your children of all ages and spending quality time with them is the best way to ensure they are not only “reading ready” but that they also develop social and emotional skills, and self confidence

Every child is unique, so parents can experiment to find the best way to bond with their children over books.