4 Reasons Why Reading is So Important for Children

I’m elementary school assembly performer Joe Romano. For over 30 years, I’ve performed educational and fun school assemblies in Virginia and other states. My Read Across America assemblies have thrilled students in thousands of schools. Each month I write articles just like this one to help inform busy parents and school administrators.

We Are Hardwired for Stories

With reading comes storytelling. Our species is born with a disposition toward reading. Before there was written language, people would pass along information through storytelling. After written languages were created, this tendency to be absorbed by stories was transferred to the written word.

One of the most captivating phrases in the English language is “Once upon a time.” We perk up and pay attention. Of course, all reading is not story-based or fictional. Even so, reading does amazing things for a person’s development.

Your Brain is a Muscle 

Did you know your brain is muscle? If you didn’t know (or had forgotten) you’re not alone. Many people don’t think of the brain as a muscle because there is no physical movement. Many of us think of biceps, triceps, and other muscles. They help us move.

But the brain is a powerful muscle. And like your other muscles, it needs exercise. Without exercise, it may atrophy and become weaker. So reading exercises your brain, which is a good thing. But what does this exercise do? Lots of things.

Benefits of Children Reading #1: Memory & Cognitive Abilities

The act of listening to a story fires off large swaths of cells in your brain. You are actively engaged while listening to a story. And if you are reading a story, other parts of your brain get in on the action too. This stimulates different functions, including memory, imagination, critical thinking, and much more.

Don’t forget memory (see what I did there?). Reading helps increase your memory. Your brain gets more of a workout and its most used functions become more developed and efficient.

Benefits of Children Reading #2: Vocabulary

The more a child reads, the higher their vocabulary. When kids read more, they are likely to encounter words they are not familiar with. They can then increase their vocabulary in a few different ways.

First, they may learn the meaning of the new word through context. That is, they learn the meaning based on other words around it, what the sentence is teaching, and so on. This exercise helps develop deductive reasoning.

Of course, they may also learn about the word by looking it up. They get valuable practice researching and exercising those parts of the brain.

Either way, they increase their vocabulary. The result They gain more knowledge. They learn new information. This constant learning keeps them actively engaged in learning mode and helps their academic performance.

Benefits of Children Reading #3: Success in School

Reading skills help your child academically. And the benefits are more than just a higher vocabulary. Reading helps stimulate curiosity and creativity. Curious children are driven to seek even more knowledge. More knowledge equals better comprehension.

If your child reads as a habit, they learn effective communication skills. They learn to write more effectively, speak more fluently, and excel at more parts of learning in school. And don’t forget the tests! With the added reading comes a better grasp of the information. That equals higher test scores.

Benefits of Children Reading #4: Live Longer

Did you see this one coming? Reading may help you live longer. It’s true! Let’s break this down…

Reading has a positive effect on stress. Reading for pleasure allows the person to get away from their stress. Many people wallow in stress. They allow it to consume them. And the added stress keeps their ‘fight or flight’ response going longer. Ongoing stress taxes your body and mind. When kids embrace reading for pleasure, they learn to step out of their stress and relax.

Reading helps sleep, too. As long as you read something you enjoy, reading is wonderful for relaxing before going to sleep. Better sleep equals feeling rested the next day. Quality sleep is better for your health.

Less stress and better sleep equals better health. And better health means a longer life. All from simply reading more books!

Get Your School Excited About Reading

Want to get your child’s entire school interested in books? My “Books! The Magic is Real!” reading school assembly program is perfect for PARP or Read Across America incentives in your school. With amazing magic, kid-friendly humor, and plenty of join-in fun, your school’s students will love this educational and fun program. Contact me today for more details on this amazing assembly.