{"id":331,"date":"2025-08-17T15:25:26","date_gmt":"2025-08-17T20:25:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=331"},"modified":"2026-09-10T16:20:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T21:20:49","slug":"why-reading-with-your-child-matters-and-how-to-make-it-a-daily-habit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=331","title":{"rendered":"Why Reading with Your Child Matters (and How to Make it a Daily Habit)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My boys\u2019 elementary school passed out a flyer (image below) at the Meet the Teacher Night for several years, and it left a lasting impression on me. It reinforced the homework policy \u2013 just 20 minutes of reading outside school every day. Besides an occasional worksheet, this has been all the homework my boys have had in elementary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s a great reminder that reading with your child is one of the most valuable investments you can make in your child\u2019s education, emotional well-being, and future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"641\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20-minutes-a-day-reading.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-332\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20-minutes-a-day-reading.png 500w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/20-minutes-a-day-reading-234x300.png 234w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Why Reading With Kids Is So Important<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reading is beneficial on many different levels. According to the Child Mind Institute, reading with children boosts development in these key areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Language development<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to Laura Phillips, PHD, \u201cJust exposure to words is the single most important thing that you can do to help build the language pathways in your child\u2019s brain.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The more children are read to (and read independently), the more words they are exposed to.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This builds their comprehension, understanding and vocabulary as well.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Empathy and Emotional Awareness<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stories introduce children to characters from different backgrounds, cultures, life experiences, and perspectives, helping them to relate to people different from themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many children\u2019s books present opportunities for children to discuss feelings and reflect on their own emotions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Parent-Child Bond<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Reading together \u2013 whether it\u2019s holding your child or snuggling on the couch &#8211; deepens connection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your touch and presence provide comfort and sensory input while the story feeds their imagination and curiosity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It\u2019s a shared experience that fosters lifelong memories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>More is Caught than Taught<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is a quote that I love by Emilie Buchwald:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cChildren are made readers on the laps of their parents.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want your child to fall in love with reading, you need to set the example. Here are some practical ideas to make reading a part of your family\u2019s culture:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Start early: even from birth. Don\u2019t wait until they\u2019re \u201cold enough\u201d to understand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make library trips a tradition \u2013 pick out books together, taking turns choosing what to read.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Take books with you everywhere \u2013 doctor\u2019s office waiting room, sports practice for a sibling, car rides, etc. Leave the electronics at home and make books the default.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establish a family reading time \u2013 read the same book aloud or have everyone read independently in the same room. (Get ideas for family read-alouds at <a href=\"https:\/\/readaloudrevival.com\/\">Read Aloud Revival<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pair books with experiences &#8211; in my family, when we read a book, we watch the movie version together. Some favorites: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4lwagge\">Charlotte\u2019s Web<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4oT4fNE\">Where the Red Fern Grows<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4oClEK3\">Swiss Family Robinson<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4mGMor3\">Old Yeller<\/a> <\/em>and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4oElXUI\">Harry Potter<\/a><\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What About Reluctant Readers?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your child sees reading as \u201cboring\u201d or a chore, you\u2019re not alone. I wrote a post about how to motivate reluctant readers that\u2019s filled with tips and book suggestions. <a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=49\">Read it here.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reading to your children has immediate benefits and long-term rewards. It builds their vocabulary, strengthens your relationship, teaches empathy and sets them up for success at school and in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is no downside \u2013 only growth, connection and joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What are you reading with your children right now? Share your favorites in the comments!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udf1f Come hang out with me for daily bookish chats on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61571135243421\">Facebook<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/readersgottaread.blog\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My boys\u2019 elementary school passed out a flyer (image below) at the Meet the Teacher Night for several years, and it left a lasting impression on me. It reinforced the homework policy \u2013 just 20 minutes of reading outside school every day. Besides an occasional worksheet, this has been all the homework my boys have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,86,227],"tags":[229,228,230],"class_list":["post-331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kids","category-read-aloud","category-value-of-reading","tag-20-minutes-or-reading-every-day","tag-read-aloud-revival","tag-read-with-your-kids"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=331"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":928,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/331\/revisions\/928"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}