Reading aloud gives children background knowledge, which helps them make sense of what they see, hear, and read. The more you read aloud to children, the larger their vocabularies will grow and the more they will know about the world and their place in it. Reading aloud lets you be a role model for reading. When children see you are excited about reading, they will catch your enthusiasm. Reading aloud introduces the language of books, which differs from language heard in daily conversations, on television, and in movies.
Book language is more descriptive and uses more formal grammatical structures.
Reading aloud lets children use their imaginations to explore people, places, times, and events beyond their own typical experiences. Reading aloud gives children and adults something to talk about. Talking supports the development of reading and writing skills. Reading aloud supports the development of thinking skills as children and adults discuss books, articles, and other texts they read together.