Why Reading Aloud Matters

Why Is Reading Aloud So Important?

• A Boost for Language Skills
  When you tell a story, you often use words and sentence structures that differ from everyday speech. This helps children discover new vocabulary and understand language better. Reading aloud and storytelling give language comprehension a powerful boost!
• Great for Emotional Development
  Reading sparks imagination and curiosity. Children learn to empathise with characters – Oh no, how sad! or Hooray, they did it! A book can be a wonderful starting point for talking about what the characters experienced. How did your child feel about it? What message did they take away? This is excellent for emotional growth.
• A Moment of Calm
  Children experience countless stimuli throughout the day. Reading a book together brings peace and quiet – a chance to step out of daily life and into a world of imagination. This works even better if you choose a regular reading time, creating structure and a sense of security. For example, always read a story before bedtime so your child knows it’s time to sleep when the story ends.

When Should You Start Reading Aloud?

Good news: you can never start too early! From around three months, you can look through picture books together. By nine or ten months, you can start reading simple stories from picture books. These introduce big themes like friendship, love, loss and illness in an accessible way, helping children recognise and understand emotions. Rhyming stories are especially popular with toddlers and preschoolers.

Not That Same Book Again!

Have you read the same story ten times and feel like you can’t face it again? Your child doesn’t mind – so keep going! Repetition is actually beneficial because it helps children understand the story better and even predict what happens next. This expands their vocabulary too.

How to Read Aloud to Children

Anyone can read aloud! These tips make it even more enjoyable for you and your child:

• Pick the Right Moment
  Choose a calm, quiet time without distractions – especially for toddlers and preschoolers.
• Choose Age-Appropriate Books
  Young children have short attention spans, so opt for thin books with pictures. Avoid overly exciting stories for toddlers and preschoolers, as they may struggle to separate fantasy from reality. Older children can handle a little suspense.
• Create a Cosy Spot
  Sit together on the sofa or at the table, away from toys. If reading is part of the bedtime routine, make it special with a reading lamp or soft light.
• Repeat, Repeat, Repeat!
  Repetition helps things stick. Read the same book for several days in a row. Change a word now and then – your child will probably say, “Hey, that’s not what it says!”

Want to Make Reading Even More Fun?

Try interactive reading to bring stories to life! Ask questions, mimic expressions and emotions, play with your tone of voice, and talk about the story afterwards. This helps toddlers and preschoolers express their own feelings. There are plenty of interactive books to make this easier and more engaging.

What If Your Child Can Already Read?

Reading aloud remains important even when your child can read independently. Listening to a story is a different experience than reading it themselves. You can help clarify things and discuss the story, which supports comprehension skills. If your child has siblings, let them read to each other – it’s fun and educational!

Reading at Basker 

At Basker International Childcare, reading aloud is an essential part of our activities. Together, we enjoy countless children’s books! Want to know more about what we do at Day Care or After School Care? We’d love to tell you more. Read about it on our website or visit one of our locations for a tour.