We all know how important it is to read to children from an early age. Picking a picture book from a bookshelf full of stories is a fun way for you both to relax and unwind. However, did you also know that reading picture books can be a great way to help your little one’s learning and development too?
So why are picture books so important? Join us as we take a look at some of the reasons why books can help nurture your children and encourage a love of reading while they are young.
1. Picture books introduce little ones to the world of reading
Picture books are the first books that parents read to children, and that children choose to read themselves. This is because of the bright and colorful illustrations, large fonts, and easy to understand language.
By reading picture books, kids learn about the joy of reading early on, encouraging them to continue the hobby when they get older. After all, reading should be fun… not a chore!
By reading together, adults are showing children that reading is a fantastic thing to do too!
2. Picture books encourage children to communicate
Looking at picture books together invites little ones to communicate with parents, both verbally and non-verbally. This is especially true if you ask children questions about the picture book as you go along.
The repetition of words can also help children understand what particular words mean, helping them to grow their vocabulary. In fact, reading the same story repeatedly can help increase a child’s vocabulary by up to 12%. This helps to improve their communication skills and builds up their confidence to ask questions, putting your child in good stead for the future.
3. Books with pictures encourage little ones to listen
Speaking and communicating are essential life skills for children to have, but listening is too. By listening to someone read a story to them, kids are developing their critical listening skills, which will help them when they enter school, as well as beyond.
4. Picture books nurture a child’s creativity
Creativity and imagination are essential skills for little ones. Building up imagination and creativity not only helps kids develop vital social skills but helps them develop their problem-solving abilities too.
Picture books encourage children to use their imagination to work out what is happening. Furthermore, gently encouraging your little one to read aloud can help their creativity to shine through!
5. Illustrated books help kids work out what happens next
All good stories have a beginning, middle and an end. Working out sequences of events and identifying clues in a picture book can help little ones to predict what will happen next – a valuable life skill to have. Honing inference skills can also help kids become more proficient in maths and science too.
6. Picture books provide a special time for parents and children to spend together
We all live busy lives and between work and other commitments, it can sometimes be hard to find time to spend with loved ones. Taking the time to sit with children and read with them creates precious bonding time.
According to Scholastic, 62% of parents with children aged between three to five read to their children most days, with kids loving the time that they spend together.
In conclusion… read picture books with your little ones every day. Not only will it help them develop vital learning skills, but it’s a wonderful opportunity to bond together.
Create the perfect picture book today with Bookbildr
Whether you want to create a book to celebrate a little one’s birthday, special occasion or just because… BookBildr is a perfect choice. We can help you create your children’s book from start to finish. All you have to do is enter your text and choose your pictures from our library full of stunning photos and bright illustrations.
When you’re done, you can download your book, or we can professionally print it for you and send it anywhere in the world.
A picture book written by you is a wonderful gift to show a loved one that you are thinking of them, even if you can’t read it together at this moment in time.
