Cozy up with your child and a good book.

Books offer a layered learning experience for children. They’re tactile and able to be held. They introduce children to the lay of the words on the page, the structure of narrative, the sound of language and the interaction required to read a book. A person reading a book is animated and engaged, in a way quite different to when they are watching a screen. The book can be held, touched, and re-read, and is usually beautifully illustrated.

Reading a book caters to a range of learning styles from audio learning (hearing) to visual (seeing) and kinesthetic (doing). Observing how your child responds to books can help you to identify what their preferred learning style is and how you can support them in the future. In this way, reading provides you with a barometer, teaching you about your child.

When a child responds to a particular book as their favorite, it can also provide key insights into their learning process, styles and tastes. They may enjoy the book for comfort or sentimentally, for its beauty or because it’s funny. They might enjoy being a little bit frightened, or lean towards informative, factual texts such as books about animals, people or places.

There is no need to be concerned if your child chooses the same book over and over. They may be consolidating an important concept for them, or simply enjoy the comfort and familiarity of a story where they are certain of and happy with the outcome.

Even if it seems like your child is too young to understand the full meaning of a narrative, reading a range of material to them is invaluable. You never know what they might pick up; a new addition to their vocabulary or a picture that particularly grabs their attention. Even learning what they don’t like supports decision making and helps them become more discerning. There are so many benefits of reading together and ones they can enjoy as they spend time with you.