Reading brings benefits at various stages of a child, from birth through to adolescence. In the first months of life, books are a kind of toy for babies to manipulate, feel and have contact with from an early age. They should be simple, more sensorial than didactic. Books with animal pictures, for example, are great for parents to explore some vocabulary. This broadens understanding and helps with the construction of speech. As the child grows, the benefits become even clearer. Books help to stimulate concentration and focus, as the child needs to pay attention in order to understand events.
This requires a mental effort from them, even improving their memory capacity. Through stories, books stimulate creativity and imagination. Unlike videos, which give a ready-made image, when children just listen to a story, they need to imagine the characters, scenarios and the whole narrative. Furthermore, the habit of reading to children strengthens the bonds between parents and children, especially when it is part of the nightly ritual. It is a way of connecting with your children, creating affective memories for life. I could list countless more benefits, check out some more below: