The Importance of Reading

Reading is the process of looking at written letters or symbols and getting meaning from them. We use our eyes to receive these symbols and our brains convert them into words and sentences that mean something to us.

Reading gives us a place to go to when we have to stay where we are! By reading, we visit places, in our minds; places we would never have the time or the financial means to visit. This is just one example why reading is so fun and pleasurable!

In fact, reading is the first step towards education. When a child goes to school, he or she first starts recognizing words and reading. Writing is something that follows reading.

So, reading is something that should be cultivated in children from as early as possible. Children should be exposed to reading as soon as they are forming verbal words and learning to turn pages. Why is reading so important, especially for children?

Here are some reasons why children should be given the opportunity to hone their reading skills.

1. Basic speech skills.

Throughout toddlerhood and preschool, your child is learning critical language and verbal skills. By listening to you read a story, your child is reinforcing the basic sounds that form language. They are learning to remember the content of spoken language. Why is this important? Because one day soon, they will need to listen to and remember multi-step instructions from their teachers, future bosses and whoever they are with.

2. Expose yourself to new things

Through reading, you expose yourself to new things, new information, new ways to solve a problem, and new ways to achieve something. Exploration begins from reading and understanding.

3. Better Communication

Communication is the most important tool which can be transmitted through reading. Through reading, you build a more solid foundation for communication. It is one of the most important tools we use every day to connect with one another. As you communicate through reading, you understand more, and thus you can communicate better with people. Reading connects you with the world.

4. Boost Imagination and Creativity

Reading exposes you to a world of imagination, expanding your horizons. By reading, you are exploring different angles to something you are trying to solve, on how different action leads to different results. Books are beyond imagination.

5. Enhanced concentration and discipline

Children may initially become distracted during story time, but eventually they’ll learn to stay put for the duration of the book. Along with reading comprehension comes a stronger self-discipline, longer attention span, and better memory retention, all of which will serve your child well when he or she is in school.

6. Reading enriches your vocabulary and ideas

You will learn at least one new word or new idea when you start reading a new novel or a daily newspaper. Obviously, when you learn new words through reading, your stock of vocabulary gets enriched. On the contrary, when you stop reading, you will be confined to limited words and ideas.

7. Reading is directly proportional to knowledge

You cannot get knowledge without reading! The more you read, the more knowledgeable you become! Every subject demands that you read. Attaining knowledge without reading is absolutely impossible. Be it Science, History, Arts or any other subject, reading is indispensable for acquiring knowledge.

8. Learn logical thinking skills & problem-solving

Through reading, children are able to grasp abstract concepts, apply logic in various scenarios, recognize cause and effect, and utilize good judgment. This will then enhance their ability to solve complex problems.

Some people like to read stories and fictions while some like to read poetry. There are also some who like to do research work, while others like to read religious or political stuff. In short, everyone has his or her own taste for reading. But whatever their taste, reading is fun and pleasurable.

Perhaps the joy of reading is best summed up by British columnist Bernard Levin, “I did not, however, read those authors in order to assume the mantle of their beliefs; I read them for pleasure. There are books we are obliged to read; for examinations, for professional reasons, to provide us with necessary or useful information, as a favour to a friend, to strengthen or counter an argument. But that is the profit of reading; we pick up a book, and enjoy it, for pleasure alone, and whatever of power and glory, solace and truth, it may contain, it will work no effect on us if it does not provide us with pleasure on its reading.”

Start reading today!

References :

8 Reasons Why Reading is So Important, by JJ Wong; http://www.inspirationboost.com/8-reasons-why-reading-is-so-important

10 reasons why you should read to your kids. https://www.earlymoments.com/promoting-literacy-and-a-love-of-reading/why-reading-to-children-is-important/

Why read? For the sheer joy of it by Warren Fernandez, The Straits Times

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/why-read-for-the-sheer-joy-of-it