Throughout my more than twenty years of involvement with children, I have found books a powerful resource for parenting. Whether looking up information for a homework assignment, or sharing a quiet moment of pleasure with a little one, children's literature has often helped me communicate effectively with young people.
Parents can begin the habit of reading with their children at almost any time.
Starting with the very young child, reading helps to develop language skills such as vocabulary, sentence structure and speech patterns. Studies have shown that parents who spend a mere twenty minutes a day reading will have the greatest educational influence on their child's life. Books offer parents a gentle way of parenting. Bonding, formulating values and practicing critical thinking are some of the benefits of reading together. Parents are their child's first teachers, but we're often at a loss as to how to maintain that role as the child matures.