A child’s life and language development can be completely transformed through the simple yet powerful act of reading. Whether you’re reading a beloved children’s novel like The Very Hunger Caterpillar or an engaging short storybook like We’re Going On A Bear Hunt’, investing time in reading with your child is invaluable not just in the present, but for the future too. Incorporating reading into your child’s routine from an early age lays a solid foundation for essential skills, including literacy, cognitive development, and social-emotional learning.
At Grandir UK, we understand the importance of sparking a love for reading in young children and it’s an activity which is incorporated daily within all our nurseries. Regularly reading supports children’s language development, sparks their imagination and builds meaningful connections between children and nursery staff. This blog will explore the key benefits of reading to children and why it’s such an important activity in Early Years development.
Why is reading so important in early years?
Reading is so much more than just a fun activity, it’s a crucial tool for child development too. Studies have shown that children who engage in reading in their early years develop more enhanced language skills, perform slightly better academically and have improved social and emotional intelligence. Research conducted in 2024 by the National Literacy Trust also found that children who read daily achieved higher standardised reading scores (n = 789; M = 109.49), compared to children who didn’t read daily (n = 3,026; M = 103.35).
Below are some of the additional key benefits of reading in early childhood from supporting cognitive development to enhanced language acquisition:
Strengthens family and child bonding
Dedicated reading time between families and children is the perfect activity to create special moments. This can be incorporated with daily storytime sessions which will provide your child with a sense of security, fun and undivided attention. This dedicated quality time will ultimately help strengthen your bond with your child whilst also sparking a love for books. A study by the American Academy of Paediatrics highlights that shared reading between families and children strengthens bonds and contributes to positive early attachment.
Supports cognitive development and language acquisition
Exposing your child to reading within their early years helps them to acquire new words, sounds and sentence structures which all contribute to their overall language development. Simply listening to new stories introduces children to a variety of characters, topics and environments, which enhances their information processing and information retention abilities. A study conducted by Ohio State University found that young children whose parents read them five books a day enter kindergarten having heard about 1.4 million more words than kids who were never read to.
Mia Johnson, Nursery Manager of Little Explorers Day Nursery and Preschool in Knighton, shared her insight on the impact of reading on children’s development:
“Reading is so important within a development aspect. Simply reading aloud exposes children to a rich new vocabulary, enhancing their language skills and introducing them to new and exciting words. Making a connection between stories and personal experiences is proven to support cognitive development. It is also proven that children who start reading early and continue this throughout their childhood, will have a greater general knowledge and forms the start of a sustainable learning journey as they transition from Early Years through to primary school and onwards.”
Sparks creativity and imagination
Books can take you anywhere you want to go! Creative reading material opens new worlds, concepts, and characters allowing children’s minds to run free. Whilst reading to children, you are helping them think outside the box and are continuously feeding their imagination while introducing new words that expand their vocabulary. An increased imagination helps them develop interests and ideas, as well as assisting with their emotional well-being and brain development.
At Grandir UK nurseries, we place great importance on inspiring creativity through reading. We provide a plethora of books and resources in our nurseries to simultaneously spark creativity and support development. For example, our Dicky Birds Nursery and Preschool, Pelham Road in Wimbledon has a beautifully dedicated reading corner, where children can enjoy reading in a cosy and nurturing setting.
Enhances social and emotional development as well as critical thinking skills
Reading books can be an excellent way to help children gain background knowledge on how to understand and cope with difficult or stressful situations, such as their first day at nursery or school. By reading to your child about these topics, it helps get the conversation started, assists them in how to communicate effectively, and supports their emotional growth by developing empathy. Books also help encourage children to express their thoughts and feelings, strengthening their social skills as they learn to relate to others through storytelling and discussion.
Mia Johnson further elaborates:
“There are links between reading and well-supported mental well-being, psychological benefits, and self-confidence.” These are all huge benefits of reading which we encourage parents to take advantage of!”
Develops a lifelong love of learning
When children read from an early age, it provides them with the tools to become better listeners, readers, and communicators – preparing them for future education and life experiences when they’re older children. Their spoken language is another key area you’ll see improving, especially if you incorporate reading aloud. This inspires a lifelong love of learning, which will support their performance in school and beyond! Additionally, research conducted by BookTrust found children who engage in regular reading benefit from a wide range of immediate and lifelong benefits such as improved literacy skills, enhanced academic success, better mental well-being, enhanced social skills, and stronger relationships With this said, we strongly encourage families to regularly read with their children at a young age. Not only can it be fun for adults, but it’s also an activity which children enjoy!
How Grandir UK promotes a reading culture
At Grandir UK, we believe that reading should be a fundamental part of every child’s early years experience. We actively promote literacy development in our nurseries by:
With these features in place across our nurseries we ensure that children develop a strong foundation in literacy while also finding joy in books.
Reading with your child is ultimately one of the most rewarding activities you can engage in together. The benefits of reading surpass beyond surpass beyond literacy – it sparks creativity, enhances cognitive skills, strengthens emotional intelligence and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. By integrating reading with your child into their routine you’re setting them up for future success.
At Grandir UK, we are committed to providing an enriching reading experience for young learners. If you are looking for a nurturing nursery that prioritises literacy and early learning, book a visit to one of our nurseries today.
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