As parents and carers, we are constantly bombarded with advice on how to give our children the best start in life. Amidst this whirlwind of recommendations, there's one simple practice that often gets overlooked: reading to your baby. The benefits of this seemingly simple act are endless. 

Building bonds 

Reading to your baby isn't just about exposing them to new words, it's about creating an emotional connection. Getting snuggled up together with a book creates moments of closeness and intimacy that strengthen the bond between parent/family member and child. 

Language development 

Babies are sponges for language, soaking up each word they hear. By reading to your baby from an early age, you're laying the groundwork for their language development. Studies have shown that babies who are read to regularly have larger vocabularies and better language skills later in life. 

Stimulating the senses 

Books engage all the senses, from the feel of the pages to the sound of your voice. As you read to your little one, they're not just hearing the words you speak, they're seeing colourful illustrations, feeling different textures, and even tasting the occasional chewed book corner! 

Teaching emotional intelligence 

Books are useful tools for exploring complex emotions in a safe and nurturing environment. By reading stories that feature characters experiencing a range of feelings, you're helping your child learn to identify, understand and even articulate their own emotions. 

Establishing routine 

Reading every day and establishing a routine can provide much-needed structure and predictability for both parent/family member and child. Make it work for you - you can keep things flexible, but a more structured nightly routine could help to signal to your child that it's time to wind down and relax. 

The benefits of reading to your baby are endless. From building bonds to fostering emotional intelligence, the simple act of sharing a story with your little one has the power to shape their future. So, cuddle up with your little one, open a book, and let us know how you get on! 

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Further resources

• Read it again https://www.familycorner.co.uk/read-it-again 

• Books about love https://www.familycorner.co.uk/books-above-love 

• Reading during pregnancy https://www.familycorner.co.uk/reading-to-your-bump-during-pregnancy 

• There's so much to discover at your local library! Become a member for free and gain access to all of their books, resources, activities and events.