5 Reasons to Read to Your Child Every Day

1. Your child will treasure the time together. For many families, the normal rhythm of the day can be busy verging on frantic. Sitting down with a book is a way to step out of the race and focus on each other. Put away your phone, turn off the TV and enjoy being together as you read. Make time for it every day, and your child will get the message: I have time that’s just for YOU.
2. New words will come naturally. There’s no better way to increase your child’s vocabulary than by offering a wide range of stories. When your child is engaged in a book, there will be times a new word doesn’t even need explanation—your child will figure out the meaning based on context alone (which is great for deductive reasoning too!).
3. Stories create a safe place for feelings. When children find it hard to express difficult emotions or challenges, seeing similar issues in a story can help them to open up. Even if today isn’t the day your child feels ready to discuss a fear or worry, hearing about the experiences of story characters can help put feelings in perspective in a reassuring way.
4. Books inspire imagination. As children listen to a story, they use their mental muscles to form images and fill in details—which means they are actually helping to create their own version of the story. Practicing this sort of creative thinking will carry over into other activities, enriching imaginative playtime, artistic pursuits and more.
5. Reading time can be tailored for your child. Unlike a television show or video game, reading time does not have any set duration or pace. You can read more slowly if your child responds well to that, pause to let the child ask questions and bookmark your page when your child is ready to move on to another activity. The pace and duration is in your control.

At Melissa & Doug we strive to produce the highest quality educational toys for children. From puzzles to puppets, plush to play food, magnetic activities, music and more, Melissa & Doug is one of the leading designers and manufacturers of educational toys and children’s products. Started in 1988 in their garage, Melissa & Doug has something for everyone, with over 2,000 unique and exciting products for children of all ages.