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April 23, 2022

Reading books, regardless of what age you are, inspires and ignites imaginations. They take you to new worlds and teach us lessons beyond academics, enriching your life!

Like every habit, developing your child’s reading skills earlier on n help them soak up life with a better approach.

Here’s what reading can do for your children:

1. Broadens Their Knowledge

Children’s books may be simple and are mostly pictures, but the information in these books is valuable in a child’s development. Through simple words and illustrations, children’s books introduce important lessons about family, friendship, values, animals, other cultures, and the world at a pace they can quickly take on.

2. Improves Their Communication Skills

As your child learns to read, their vocabulary grows and they gain an understanding of the meaning of words. They become more expressive when they talk, and can even use a broader range of words when conversing with you and others. Books provide children with tools to express themselves more clearly with their family and friends!

3. Develops Their Confidence and Independence 

As your child’s reading skills develop, their confidence and independence grow as they tackle and learn unknown words on their own. Once they have the basic knowledge of words, spelling, pronunciation, and grammar, they feel more confident to learn unfamiliar words alone.

Start by reading with them. Eventually, they will learn to read by themselves.

Here are 6 children’s books you can use to help your child’s development! 

      1. The Giving Tree

A famous classic, The Giving Tree written by Shel Silverstein teaches us the wonderful lesson of generosity. Just like the tree, this book teaches us to share what we have with those people in need, and at the same time, it also teaches us to not take so much from others.

The Giving Tree is a good book to start with when reading with your child. It will teach them to be unconditionally kind to others and to share their blessings willingly!

      2. Love You Forever

First published in 1986, Love You Forever written by Robert Munsch has been one of the most loved children’s books of all time. This book pays a touching tribute to a parent’s unconditional love for their child.

You can read this to your child to remind them that despite their mistakes or who they are, you will unconditionally love them. It will also teach them value and love for family! 

      3. How Are You Feeling Today?

Exploring and discussing what we feel may come as a challenge for anyone. But the book How Are You Feeling Today by Molly Potter teaches us to explore what we feel and what we do with them!

It teaches your child that there are many emotions and it is okay to feel them, but you need to know what you should do with them as the book provides child-friendly solutions.

      4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Your child will definitely enjoy Eric Carle’s picture book filled with colorful images! Apart from the rich visuals, the book also teaches your child self-control, well-being and happiness, and growth and change!

Just like the hungry caterpillar, sometimes we may not have self-control in life, especially when finding our happiness. Sometimes, these challenges and unpleasant experiences also help us change and grow!

      5. Ang Batang Ayaw Maligo

Apart from English Children’s Books, you can also start with Tagalog books that can help your child develop their own native language!

Written by Beng Alba-Jones, Ang Batang Ayaw Maligo tells the story of a little boy named Popong who does not want to take a bath. This book teaches your child basic hygiene and why proper grooming is also taking care of our body!

      6. Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang

A collection of short stories written by Severino Reyes, Mga Kwento ni Lola Basyang, is also a wonderful children’s literature book to start with, especially if you want to teach your children Filipino values.

Stories like Alamat ng Lamok, Ang Parusa ng Duwende, Ang Prinsipeng Mahaba ang Ilong, and many more teach your children moral lessons like honesty, generosity, kindness, respect, and even Filipino tradition and culture!

As Dr. Seuss says, “The more that you read, the more that you’ll know. The more that you know, the more places you’ll go!” Developing reading skills can help your child’s development and help them achieve more in life!

Happy reading, Mommies!

sources: shepherdsfriendly.co.uk, parents.com, kumon.co.uk, readingrockets.org, freepik.com