Reading aloud truly is a tale as old as time. From parents and grandparents to teachers and librarians, people have read stories aloud for centuries. And for good reason—the benefits of reading aloud are endless.
In this guide, we’ll explore this practice further, examining the benefits of reading aloud with children and providing tips to help you make the most out of this special time.
Table of Contents
Reading Aloud: The Basics
Reading aloud is simply the act of reading a book or story out loud to someone else. You can read aloud with children of any age, from infants to older kids and even teenagers. You can even read aloud with adults: there’s no age limit to enjoying a good story!
Whether you’re reading picture books, chapter books, non-fiction texts, or anything else, the experience of reading aloud with others can be incredibly beneficial.
Benefits of Reading Aloud
When you share a story with children, you entertain them and provide numerous developmental advantages. Here are just a few of the benefits of reading aloud with children.
Language Development
Reading aloud helps children develop language skills such as vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. It exposes them to new words and sentence structures they may not encounter in everyday conversations.
Plus, it helps them build emergent literacy skills. They’ll have a solid foundation to build on when they enter kindergarten.
Cognitive Development
When your child listens to you read aloud, their brain develops. It helps improve their memory, concentration, and critical thinking skills.
As they listen, they have to remember the characters’ names and plot points. They also have to stay focused on the story to follow along with what is happening.
Often, children begin forming mental pictures of the story as they listen, which helps with visual thinking and imagination.
Bonding
As you and your child escape into the pages of a book together, you’re creating a special bond. This shared experience can build trust and strengthen the relationship between parent and child.
Reading aloud also provides opportunities for conversation, whether discussing the story or making connections to real-life situations. It allows for quality time together, which fosters a deeper connection.
Emotional Development
Reading aloud can also positively impact your child’s emotional development. As they listen to you read, they’re exposed to different emotions and learn how characters deal with them. This allows children to develop empathy and understand their own feelings better.
They may also relate to characters in the story who face similar challenges or experiences, which can help them feel less alone. This can lead to increased self-awareness.
Models Fluency
While you read aloud, you’re modeling good reading behavior. You’re showing your child what a good reader sounds like. Throughout the pages, you’re demonstrating:
- Reading with expression
- Pausing at punctuation marks
- Maintaining a steady pace
- Adjusting tone for different characters or emotions
Each of these is an important aspect of fluent reading. By listening to you, your child will pick up on these and eventually incorporate them into their own reading.
Reading Aloud Tips by Age
Reading aloud benefits kids of all ages, but how you read aloud can vary based on your child’s age. Here are some tips to help you make the most out of reading time at different stages, from baby through elementary school.
Infants
Newborns love hearing your voice. It’s their very favorite sound in the whole world! At this age, they aren’t too picky. You can read them anything—from a college textbook to the ingredients listed on a cereal box.
Make it a goal to read together daily. It can be part of your bedtime routine or anytime during the day. While your newborn won’t understand many of the words you’re reading, they’ll enjoy the snuggles and learn to associate reading with positive feelings.
As your baby gains skills and independence, you may notice they no longer want to sit and snuggle as you read. That’s OK! Just move to the tips in the toddler section at that point. They’re designed for active, wiggly kiddos.
Books to Read to Your Baby
- Mr. Brown Can Moo by Dr. Seuss
- Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton
- Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
- The Complete Tales of Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Toddlers
Don’t be surprised if your toddler isn’t interested in sitting still for story time. They may flip the pages as you’re trying to read or get up and start playing.
Don’t worry! This is normal, and it doesn’t mean they don’t love reading; they just have a lot of energy and are eager to explore.
Here are some simple ways to make reading time more enjoyable for you both:
- Don’t try to read the actual words on the page. Instead, look at the pictures and make up your own story.
- Ask your child questions about the pictures.
- Interact with the book. Pretend to eat the food in it, try to put your child’s foot into the picture of the shoe, or make animal sounds.
- Incorporate movement by acting out the story.
- Let your child hold the book and set the pace. Follow their lead.
- Subscribe to the Learn with Sesame Street by Begin Premium Subscription The Beginner Stage and get some great books and engaging activities delivered to your door.
- Encourage quiet playing, putting together a simple puzzle, or coloring while you read.
Books to Read to Your Toddler
- Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
- No, David! By David Shannon
- Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? By Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle
- The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton
Preschoolers
Preschoolers often have an attention span that allows them to follow along with longer stories. Many kids this age are beginning to recognize letters and may be able to sound out simple words.
Go to the library together. If your local branch has a storytime, attend it when you can. Then, let your child pick out a few books to take home.
While reading, keep using the engaging voices and expressions you’ve always used. It’s also a great time to start asking your child more questions about the story, introducing them to the concept of reading comprehension.
Try these:
- What do you think will happen next?
- Why do you think the character did that?
- Who is your favorite character?
You can also engage your child in simple activities related to the story. If you read a book about animals, have stuffed animals on hand that your child can use to retell the story. If you’re reading a book where the characters bake, print out a recipe and work together to bake it.
Little Passports by Begin can help with this. Read the booklets together, and then work through the hands-on activities. Get started with the HOMER Early Learning Kit or Early Explorers.
Activities like these help bring books to life and spark a lifelong love of reading!
Books to Read to Your Preschooler
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
- How Do Dinosaurs Go to School? By Jane Yolen and Mark Teague
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Elementary Kids
Keep reading aloud to your child, even after they start school, and learn how to read their own books.
These tips can help make story time age-appropriate and engaging:
- Let your child choose the book or offer them a choice between a couple of different options.
- Ask open-ended questions about the story.
- Use technology as a tool. Let your child practice their reading skills on the HOMER app by Begin. You can also play audiobooks on car trips—while it’s not exactly the same as reading aloud, it’s still beneficial and can help the miles go by.
- Dive into book series together. You and your child will grow attached to characters as you follow their sagas from one volume to the next.
- Take turns reading paragraphs or pages so you can both practice your pronunciation and expressions.
- Help your child make connections between the book and real life to develop their comprehension.
- Read from a variety of genres. To keep things interesting, aim for a mix of chapter and picture books.
- Don’t be afraid to revisit old favorites or try new books. Reading the same books repeatedly helps children develop their reading fluency and comprehension while trying new books exposes them to different writing styles and expands their vocabulary.
Books to Read to Your School-Aged Child
- Frindle by Andrew Clements
- The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- Ramona and Beezus by Beverly Cleary
- Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Boost Reading Skills with Begin!
Reading aloud plays a crucial role in your child’s reading development. It helps them learn new words, understand sentence structure, and develop a love of literacy.
Your child is never too old to be read to, so it’s not too late if you haven’t started this practice yet. Pick up a book, sit down together, and start reading!
And to help boost your child’s reading skills even more, look no further than Begin. Our blended learning program offers fun and engaging apps and hands-on projects to help your child master core skills like reading.
Take our quiz today to determine which level is right for your child.
