Experts have confirmed what literature loving parents have always believed, that the love of reading really does start with mum and dad! A study at the Norwegian Reading Centre at the University of Stavanger (UoS) has shown that it’s the children who are read to regularly at home that are at an advantage once they start school and it goes much further than an inherited love of fiction.
The reading environment in the homes of very young children is strongly linked to their reading progress once they begin school, and what’s more, this effect cannot be replicated by technology, no matter how much of a whizz your 3-year-old seems to be on the iPad.
It’s not just about reading to children either, the general attitude shown by parents regarding reading is incredibly important and this incorporates such things as how many books are at home, the age at which parents start reading to children and how often, and even how much time children simply see parents reading to themselves. It seems it really is a case of ‘monkey see, monkey do.’
The study was part of the Norwegian research project ‘On Track’, which has been investigating ways of preventing literacy difficulties suffered by first grade students. The study tested the children for various reading and writing skills, while the parents were left to fill in the details about how literature played a part in their home life, answering all sorts of questions from how often they read to their children, how often they read themselves, and even how many books are at home.
The results have shown clearly that the greater part books play in the lives of children and their parents from the youngest age possible, the better prepared they are to learn and read once they start school. It’s not just a love of reading either; reading influences a child’s vocabulary and phonological awareness, by reading children develop a wider vocabulary and this helps with communication. The overall effect on children is that reading and the expansion of vocabulary reduces frustration and leads to happier, more peaceful, less aggressive children who understand and take in more in the classroom and can better articulate themselves too.
In fact the study shows that some of the most important reading we do to children may be the reading aloud that we do before a child can speak. The most influential ages for learning language are between 18 months and 3 years and our actions during this time, can decide a child’s learning for life.
It really is never too early to pick up a book and read to a child, but the interesting thing about this study is that it shows that your behaviour counts too. It’s not just about reading children’s books to your child, but about allowing your child to see what an important part literature is in your life too! Previous studies have shown that seeing a parent read makes for children who read, and this study would agree! It’s not just about telling your children what to become, but showing them too!
New Children’s Book Reveals the Black History of the UK
Roald Dahl Estate Announces ‘Wonka’ Tie-in Novel
Harry Potter Book Purchased for 30p Sells for £10,500
Harry Potter Books to be made into new TV series
Spot on. I definitely owe my love of reading and writing fiction and non fiction to my parents. I remember being taken to the children’s library by my folks from around the age of five onward. We would choose a couple of books for me – one for me to read and one for my Dad to read to me – and then we would go the full library for them to get their books. I lost my Dad in January 2014 and my Mum a few weeks ago and every time I pick up a book to read I thank them.
I am always reading and both of my kids read all the time. My son’s first grade teacher told me during conferences, that there are times she has to tell him to put the book down and work on the lesson. She hates to do it but if she didn’t he would read all day. The classroom limit was 2 books at a time in the desk and he would always have 6 or 7. she never told him no, put them back, because boys at that age are very rarely readers and she doesn’t want to stop him. His reading is several grades ahead and his comprehension is 7th grade and he is in 3rd grade. If you can’t tell I am one proud momma. 🙂
Lovely to hear of a boy so keen to read – you should be proud of your clever little chap and of yourself for supporting that!
My parents are both avid readers, and we always had shelves and shelves of books at home, both for adults and kids. I’ve passed that on to my kids too: they all have a bookcase in their bedrooms, full both of our own books and library books. We started reading to them pretty much the day they were born, and registered them at our local library while still babies – the library was a regular stop-off when shopping or on rainy days. When my youngest started pre-school aged 2, the staff commented that if she ever felt tired, sad or anxious she would head to the book corner and choose a favourite book to look though – it made me so happy that she gets comfort from books! I still read at bedtimewith my middle child, 11 years old, even though she is a fabulous reader – it means we can share books that I love but that are perhaps a bit too complicated for her to read to herself: she loved Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons, and we are currently working our way through a variety of Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh whodunnits! I make sure I always discuss what I’m reading and what they’re reading with them – what we’ve enjoyed, characters, clever plot points, interesting words or just funny names! And I’ve always told them: the only thing I never feel guilty spending time and money on is a book…