Unforgettable Benefits of Bedtime Stories

K12 — An exquisite aspect of parenthood is the tranquil delight experienced while reading bedtime stories to your child. Your nurturing tone can gently guide them into a restful state as you share enchanting tales and rhythmic nursery rhymes. I still cherish the evenings when my mother would read my favorite stories to me.For infants, merely hearing spoken language significantly aids their linguistic development. As children mature, engaging narratives and relatable themes prompt profound questions about life when they nestle into slumber. Thus, selecting books at the library or from home offers tangible benefits for your child each time you read together.Exposure to language plays a critical role in cognitive advancement. Studies indicate children who are read to daily can absorb approximately 290,000 more words by age five compared to peers who aren't. This practice also cultivates secure attachments, vital for emotional resilience and relationship-building. Furthermore, it enhances social-emotional skills, such as empathy, shaped by the characters and scenarios within the stories, ultimately fostering a lifelong love for reading. Niyoka McCoy, Chief Learning Officer at K12, spearheads educational strategies with over 16 years in the field.