Reading aloud is a great activity for kids of all ages. From birth, you can encourage families to find a few minutes every day to read to their children. Here’s why…

1. The power of a caregiver’s voice. From birth, children find the voice of a loved caregiver to be uniquely soothing and comforting.
2. The introduction of words. At all ages, children learn rich vocabulary from hearing words they don’t yet know. 
3. The chance to imagine. Research shows that hearing stories helps our brains to actually imagine ourselves having those experiences. Stories outside of their everyday lives can therefore help children to make new connections and stimulate curiosity and imagination.
4. The opportunity to learn a new perspective. Understanding how others think and feel is a key benefit of reading. As children grow, studies show that reading books around feelings and perspectives can improve social relationships and conflict resolution skills.

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See the handout for families here.