What the Research Says About Reading to Children

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.

Making Reading Aloud a Joyful Daily Routine

Picture 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.

A Gift That Lasts a Lifetime

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.