The Importance of Books in Child Development

The Importance of Books in Child Development

We might be living in a time where computers and the Internet have become the source and means of people’s entertainment and knowledge, but the wonderful world of books is still alive and well.
During the first years of a child’s life, we, as parents, are providing our little ones with lots of different stimuli.
Books are the number one educational tool and children, as little as a few months old, they are fascinated by the colours and textures of a book.
Child development starts as soon as they are born and the importance of books in this process is vital. Babies might chew, throw or turn a book around but this will be the beginning of a long lasting journey to becoming a successful reader.

Here are some reasons why books are so important in the development of your child:

1. A book provides a child with valuable vocabulary, starting from simple basic words all the way to making sentences and expanding their ‘word bank’.
2. Children’s imagination is stimulated and they can understand better the world they living in.
3. Social skills are developed through story books and children are learning about relationships and emotions.
4. The routine of reading a book with your child, at bedtime or at any other time, is emotionally nourishing and creates a long lasting bond. In addition, a parent can give examples of everyday life to the child that relates to the story. In this way, the child can recognize different situations as it grows up, and be better prepared to deal with or understand them.
5. Different types of books offer the child a more wide knowledge and experience. This can help children be better prepared for school and enhance their curiosity for deeper subjects or abstract ideas.
6. A book as a source of entertainment is very important and can replace the TV and computer for part of the day. It can be the time when a child builds castles and runs through forests in his/her head. A time to be alone with its imagination and create the scenery and characters as they please. A story that can be told in a million different ways.
7. Lastly, books should be considered a treasure and if parents provide their children with treasures, then their children will cherish and love them forever.