Photo by RODNAE
Children’s books take young readers into places and experiences that hone their characters and prepare them for their life’s journey.
When a child is born, they’re like a blank white piece of paper, ready to absorb and take on the world. Every encounter they go through will be like dots on this piece of paper, slowly filling out all the white space as they progress through life. And these dots, big or small, will determine the kind of adults they become later in life.
That’s why at the earliest part of their developmental stage, it is up to their family, peers, and whoever is in charge of their welfare to make sure that these dots that would make up their life would benefit them the most as they grow into adulthood.
Part of these dots is taken from their interaction with their family and peers. The other part is experienced during their school years. Books- specifically, children’s books- are one essential tool helping them throughout this learning process that molds their character.
Reading is an effective communication process that people need to learn and practice to boost their brain development and social interaction skills. That is a given fact.
Benefits of Reading Children’s Books
When American author Theodor Geisel, a.k.a Dr. Seuss, wrote 1957 the children’s book The Cat in the Hat, the world of children’s literature took a turn overnight. Children’s literature suddenly becomes fun and exciting! This literature utilized one-syllable words and lively illustrations that made reading for kids an easy and enjoyable experience.
The Berenstain Bears series by authors Stan and Jan Berenstain also became household staple books because of their colorful illustrations and easy-to-read and follow children and family plots.
Why are children’s books an essential learning tool for young kids? What makes these beloved illustrative stories, The Cat in the Hat and the Berenstain Bears, well-loved worldwide and used as a reference for children’s development? What do young readers benefit from reading these books?
Character and Values Formation
One of the most significant benefits a child could take away from reading children’s books is character and values formation. Children learn from the people and the plot they read and try to emulate and practice the attitudes they read about in real life. Suppose a child is exposed to a children’s book depicting the values of generosity and kindness. In that case, the child will likely take these characteristics and become generous and kind later in life.
Walter Hoge’s book Easter: McEaster Valley is an excellent example of a children’s book sending out a vital message to its young readers. The author, in his book, celebrates the value of bravery and generosity. Easter: McEaster Valley invites children to contemplate nature and Mother Earth and the importance of taking initial steps to look and care for the environment.
Cognitive Development
Another essential benefit of reading children’s books is developing and enhancing brain function. Cognitive development is associated with how a child thinks and perceives the world relating to their intelligence, language development, processing information, and reasoning or rationalizing skills. Children’s books help them develop this understanding and start forming their knowledge about reality or what life is about in the outside world. You can call it some preparation for what they’ll soon be facing.
For instance, E. B. White’s famous book Charlotte’s Web teaches a child about friendship and the perks of having friends. Not to mention the conflicts that friends encounter in real life.
Vocabulary Skills
The National Center on Early Childhood Development, Teaching, and Learning shared that reading helps children expand their vocabulary skills through exposure to various words and numbers found in books. There are many words used in books that are often not part of basic everyday conversations. Hence, consistent reading and exposure to these books help children retain this vocabulary and influence them to use it in their daily lives.
Key Takeaway
Reading takes children to faraway places and worlds of imagination. Through these worlds, they begin to develop a perspective of reality. And these worlds would take the form of those dots and fill up that blank piece of paper in a child’s life.
Fill up your child’s world with the proper values and character. Grab a copy of Walter Hoge’s book Easter: McEaster Valley on Amazon, or visit the author’s website at www.walterhogebooks.com.
