If you’re a parent, you likely have been told you should read to your children. But, have you ever stopped to ask why?
In a recent Huffington Post article, author Catherine Pearson cites new research that indicates reading to young children can improve the narrative comprehension and image recognition parts of your little one’s brain.
Local Cincinnati Children’s Hospital’s Dr. Thomas DeWitt, director of general and community pediatrics, helped organize the study. He told Pearson, “Prior to this study, we really have not been able to [answer the question], ‘Does [reading to children]have an impact biologically on brain function?”
Previously, empirical studies indicated children who were read to had better literacy and oral language skills than their cohorts who were not read to, and were more prepared for school. But, the newest study goes one step further by mapping how being read to impacts a child’s brain.
Though the evidence is far from conclusive, the biggest takeaway for parents is to keep reading as often as they can. So, break out Goodnight, Moon – your little one will appreciate it!
