Reading aloud to children is one of the most powerful ways parents can support language development, literacy, emotional well-being, and school readiness. Research consistently shows that children who are read to regularly develop stronger vocabulary, better comprehension skills, and a lifelong love of books. Beyond academics, shared reading builds deep emotional bonds and creates calm, meaningful routines that children treasure. As an author, there is nothing that makes me happier than the opportunity to read one of my stories to children.
I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know how to read. That isn’t because it was decades ago or because my memory is poor — it’s because books were everywhere in my childhood.
Both my parents read indefatigably. Books lay open on tables, chairs, and window ledges. In the mornings, my mother often burnt the toast because her nose was buried in a book — a habit I seem to have inherited.
Our local library was in the next village. There was only one road to cross, complete with a zebra crossing, so I was allowed to visit on my own at weekends. I still remember the smell of the books, the thick plastic dust jackets, and the hushed hum of that old-fashioned book kingdom.
I chose the books, but my mother and I read them together. That shared reading created a bond that lasted her lifetime. The stories we loved are still with me — ones I later shared with my own children and grandchildren, and still reread with a deep sense of nostalgia.
As a teacher, I always encouraged parents to read to their children to support language and literacy development. That advice isn’t simply anecdotal — it is firmly supported by research.
The American Academy of Paediatrics states that “Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.”
In Reading Aloud to Children: The Evidence, Augustyn, Duursma, and Zuckerman explain that reading aloud — even for short periods each day — promotes early literacy and language growth while fostering a genuine love of reading. Crucially, this love of reading has a greater long-term impact than isolated literacy drills.
Health professionals also highlight that shared reading helps children:
develop emotional coping strategies
learn social skills and empathy
understand unfamiliar situations
broaden their knowledge of the world
Children who are read to regularly hear more words, encounter richer vocabulary, and gain a deeper understanding of how language works — advantages that are evident by the time they enter school. Studies consistently show these children go on to read more confidently and achieve better academic outcomes throughout their education.
Reading aloud jumpstarts multiple foundational literacy skills:
Phonemic awareness
Children learn to hear and play with sounds in words. Repetition and rhythm — such as “tip-tap, tip-tap” in The Three Billy Goats Gruff — help link sounds to meaning.
Phonics
Listening to stories and nursery rhymes helps children connect spoken sounds with written letters and words.
Vocabulary development
Stories expose children to varied settings, characters, and ideas, expanding the language they use to communicate.
Reading comprehension
Children learn to focus, listen for meaning, make inferences, and discuss what they hear.
Fluency
Hearing expressive reading helps children anticipate language patterns and develop natural rhythm and expression when they begin to read.
These skills provide children with a strong foundation long before formal schooling begins.
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Image of Information board - The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Kenneth Allen, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
This image of "Hansel and Gretel" by perpetualplum is licensed under CC BY 2.0. courtesy of flickr.comPicture the end of a busy day: toys are tidied (mostly), pyjamas are on, and the house begins to quieten. This is the perfect moment to set the scene for reading.
A familiar chair, a favourite blanket, and a well-loved book can become part of a comforting routine that children look forward to each day. Regular reading times help children feel secure and build positive associations with books.
Bring stories to life by being expressive — change your voice for characters, pause for suspense, and let your tone reflect the story’s mood. Invite children to participate by turning pages, pointing to pictures, or joining in with repeated phrases or rhymes.
Ask gentle questions:
“What do you think will happen next?”
“How do you think that character feels?”
For children who struggle to sit still, reading doesn’t have to be passive. Acting out parts of the story or using simple props can deepen engagement and understanding.
Most importantly, follow your child’s lead. If they want to linger on a page or revisit a favourite book again and again, allow it. Repetition builds confidence, comprehension, and mastery.
When you respond to a child’s plea, “Read me a story,” by opening a book, you give him more than words on a page. You give that child language, connection, emotional security, and a head start in life.
Starting school can be overwhelming for young children — new routines, unfamiliar people, and new expectations. Reading aloud from infancy equips them with the communication skills and confidence they need to navigate these changes successfully.
My mother understood this instinctively. Born at a time when education was a privilege, she made books central to our lives. That gift continues to ripple through generations — proof that reading aloud doesn’t just teach children to read; it teaches them how to belong, imagine, and thrive.
If you’d like to learn more about the proven benefits of reading to children and how to use reading-related activities when playing or teaching children, please leave a comment below. You’re also very welcome to share your own tips on how you support early literacy, language development, and learning in the classroom or at home.
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Poppy’s Pocket Dragon: First Day at School is a warm, funny children’s book about starting a new school, making friends, and finding confidence. On her first day at Knotty Street School, shy Poppy feels completely alone — until she meets Spike, a mischievous pocket dragon with a love of food and a talent for classroom chaos. With Spike’s help (and a new friend called Ali), Poppy learns to be brave, speak up, and enjoy school.
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Captain Jack Takes Control
Can you keep a secret?
Poppy has a dragon in her pocket — and school is about to get chaotic.
Gummy bears, fizzy flying saucers, and a science lesson in outer space! When Spike causes classroom mayhem and danger looms, a quiet boy called Jack must step up and take control.
A funny, fast-paced adventure about friendship, courage, and finding the leader inside you.
Perfect for readers aged 7–9.