Reading and the development of children
According to research on children learning, there is a high correlation between parents who read and the reading habit of their children. The research found that parents who read often, have a lot of books at home, would encourage their children to read more. The research also found that children who like to read often grow up to be more thoughtful, empathic, open-minded adults, and concluded that reading is an essential part of children learning and developing.
Of course, young children will not read unless parents provide them with children books that they are interested in. Having books that suitable for their age is an important factor in encouraging them to read. Since most children will start reading in the first grade, parents can select certain books to help develop their attitudes early. In the beginning, books about animals, the environment, songs, and music would appeal to young children. By the second or third grade, books about short stories on parents-children relationships, teachers-students relationships, personal responsibilities, ethical concepts, and good moral stories are very important to help children develop certain behaviors and good attitudes. During this time, children begin to build their own vocabulary and it is important for parents to spend more time reading with them, explain the meaning of difficult words for them so by the time they reach the third or six grade, they will have a rich vocabulary to help them start the reading habit on their own.
According to the research, by six grade, most children will develop their own preference on what types of book they want to read. This is also the time when they are influenced by friends, teachers, and the surrounding environment. However, if they already develop a good reading habit, they will direct their interests in certain subjects. Since there are many types of book available in the market, some are good but many are not because publishers often push their “Commercial success” books that focus on popularity and appeal than good content. This is the time parents need to pay more attention and selective on the books that their children read.
The research warned that “this is the last opportunity” for parents to influence their children’ minds and behaviors because by the time they reach high school, they will be more independent and under the influence of other social activities and friends. Basically, how children read, what they read at an early age, can have a significant influence on their behavior, their responsibility, and their attitudes in their lives later.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
