It could change your child’s future.
Reading to young children is highly encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) as a means to nurture loving relationships during the critical stages of infancy and early childhood when significant brain development occurs.
“Sharing books with young children infuses joyful language and meaningful interactions into daily life,” stated Dr. Perri Klass, a professor of journalism and pediatrics at New York University and the primary author of the AAP’s updated literacy policy statements.
She suggests incorporating books into bedtime routines to help families connect and relax after a hectic day. “This practice strengthens your bond with your child and supports their developing brain,” she noted in an AAP news release.
The new policy statement, released on September 29 in the journal Pediatrics, marks the AAP’s first update on literacy recommendations since 2014. It aligns with emerging research focused on early childhood brain development.
This statement was slated for discussion during the AAP’s annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, where Dr. Klass, along with Claudia Aristy from Reach Out and Read, an organization that advocates reading to children from birth, led the conversation.
The AAP emphasizes that shared reading plays a crucial role in preparing children for school and provides lifelong advantages. It lays a foundation for healthy social-emotional, cognitive, language, and literacy growth.
“Interacting with a high-quality print book that features vibrant images and expressive language is most beneficial,” explained Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrics professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
He cautioned that while touchscreen devices may be popular, they often result in passive or solitary experiences for children, lacking the interactive and relationship-building benefits of traditional reading.
The AAP’s new recommendations urge pediatricians to take proactive steps to encourage reading, including promoting shared reading from birth through at least kindergarten and highlighting the importance of diverse books that reflect various cultures, characters, and themes.
“Research indicates that reading skills by third grade are a strong predictor of high school graduation and future career success,” Dr. Klass remarked. “Children who are introduced to books in their parents’ laps at a young age tend to associate reading with comfort, security, and engagement, as well as with the cherished voices of the adults who play crucial roles in their early lives.”
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