by Tammy Lim

Created on: January 01, 2009

Reading with parents calms children; this is indeed true from my personal experience and also witnessing the experience of others. I strongly support reading the practice of parents reading with their children.

It has always been my joy and privilege to be able to read to my own two children during their growing up years. After years of regular bedtime stories, it has instilled a love of books and the habit of reading in my children. The regular, constant attention and reading, sharing before bedtime helps them to feel secure and loved and calms them down.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

I have been reading to my children daily since the day they were in my womb. When they were babies, I will read them stories before bed. As children, they enjoyed listening to stories being read to them and it was never difficult to get them to go to bed every night. They will each enthusiastically select a story from the many books in their room as part of their bedtime routine. After the stories have been read to them, they will fall asleep calmly and easily. The reading sessions may have been instrumental, my children are generally secure, self-assured and cheerful and they socialize and make friends with ease.

Some of the stories are biblical and others have moral teachings and this helps to teach our children biblical truths and moral values. This is part of character building. Knowing and doing what is right constantly gives our children a clear conscience and calmness in spirit.

Reading with our children helps give them a head start for junior school and build a good foundation for their future learning. Reading with our children increases their knowledge, vocabulary and language ability. This in turn helps them in their writing ability and their school results in general. This in turn builds up their confidence and as a result calms our children.

Reading with our children from a young age builds their interest in books, which is a good hobby. This lays a good foundation and path for their life long learning.

When we, as parents, read regularly with their children, we not only help them build their vocabulary, teach them moral values, we also build a bond with them and indirectly build in them the self-assuredness and calm that is imperative to them.

Reading with parents calms children and all its benefits that it brings along the way cannot be over-emphasized. I have seen positive results of real life cases in my life, my children's life and also those of others who have read with their children. Try it for yourself and you will see the benefits and result of this unfold through the years. Reading with parents has multiple advantages for children.

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