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5 Benefits of Story time for Kids

5 February 2023

There’s a reason why parents have been telling their children bedtime stories for centuries – it’s good for them! Story time can help your child in many ways, from developing their imagination to improving their language skills. Here are five benefits of story time for kids.

It Helps them Learn to Read

Reading is a critical skill that helps children succeed in school and in life. Studies have shown that children who are read to at home have better literacy skills than those who are not. Reading aloud to children helps them develop important language skills, such as vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Reading also helps children learn to focus and pay attention, and it can promote bonding between parent and child. For all these reasons, story time is an important way to help kids learn to read.

It Helps them Learn to Think Creatively

When children are read stories, they are not only entertained but also exposed to new ideas and ways of thinking. Through stories, kids can explore different points of view and discover new ways of looking at the world. In addition, stories often contain elements of fantasy and imagination, which can encourage kids to be more creative in their own lives. As a result, story time is an important activity for helping kids learn to use their own imaginations better. Story time is a valuable experience for kids that helps them learn to think creatively and develop important life skills.

It Helps them Develop Empathy and Understanding

Not only does story time help children develop language skills, but it also helps them understand the world around them. Through stories, kids can learn about other cultures and ways of life. They can also develop empathy and understanding for other people's experiences. They learn to see the world from another person's perspective and to feel empathy for their situation. Because of this, story time can help kids develop important social and emotional skills.

It Helps them Remember Information Better

Numerous studies have shown that hearing a story repeatedly helps children - even infants - remember the information better than if they’d only heard it once. In fact, some researchers believe that the back-and-forth between narration and listening strengthens the neural pathways in a child’s brain, making it easier for them to store and recall information. And while listening to audiobooks or stories online can be enjoyable, there’s something about being in the same room as another person that helps children focus and pay attention. When you read together, you can also model proper reading behaviours - such as using expressive intonation and gestures - which can help your child pick up these important skills.

It Makes them Sleepy

For many parents, getting their kids to sleep at night can be a real struggle. But while bedtime may sometimes seem like a battle, there's one activity that can actually help kids wind down and get ready for sleep: story time. Hearing a bedtime story is a soothing and calming experience for young children, and it can help prepare them for a restful night's sleep. Listening to a story allows kids to forget about their day-to-day worries and relax in the world of make-believe. So next time you're struggling to get your little ones to drift off to sleep, try telling them a story. It just might do the trick.

Story time is a valuable experience for kids that helps them learn in many ways. It helps them develop literacy skills, learn to think creatively, and understand the world around them. It can also help them remember information better and make them sleepy. So next time you're looking for an activity to do with your kids, consider story time. It just might be the perfect activity for them.

Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash

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