The Bonds of Childhood: What Adults Can Gain from Reading With their Children

We are delighted to have Jane Sandwood with us today. Jane wrote this article about the joys of reading for parents, especially for The Reading Tub.

Parents dream of being the best mom or dad a child could ask for. They want to raise a happy and healthy family and live in a home where disciplining is the exception not the norm. The secret to achieving all of this is to create as close a connection as possible with your children and one way to achieve this is by reading to them. Reading can be seen as a portal, especially for families, to discovering exciting new worlds along with each other’s unique ideas and opinions.

Research tells us that children who read with their parents are significantly faster learners. Our memories and our hearts remind us that story time with dad and mom is extremely special. Nothing beats sinking into a deep comfortable chair or snuggling up on bed to share a favorite story between parent and child. There is a sense of magic to such a closeness that benefits the parent just as much as it does the child with the benefits of reading reaching much further than we can comprehend.

Bonding with your child

The parent-child bond is, despite popular belief, of equal importance to all parties involved. It serves as an essential foundation for a developing child who finds security and confidence in the love of his parents while parents feel fulfilled knowing they are giving their children their full, undivided attention. Reading to and with children gives parents the opportunity to establish a very strong and nurturing bond with their children.

Reliving childhood memories

As a parent you are able to relive some of your fondest childhood memories when reading to your children. Pick a book you loved as a child and aim to instill that same sense of awe and appreciation in your child. Before reading you can explain why the book was one of your favorites when you were a child. After reading, ask your child for his input. This allows the two of you to bond over one of your old memories that you now share.

There are countless classic children books such as those written by Roald Dahl and Beatrix Potter that have remained the favorites of children over the span of many decades.

Any type of reading is good for you

For both parents and children, reading is a wonderful stress reliever and offers a chance for us all to take time out of our busy lives.

As parents we often simply don’t have the time to sit down and relax with a book of our own. It may mean that reading to our children is the only contact we have with literature. In the world of books all reading is considered beneficial, even if adults are reading books to their children. Reading lighthearted children’s books is a sure-fire way to uplift your mood and may even help ease long-term anxiety and depression.

Short Bio

Jane Sandwood is a freelance writer and editor with more than 10 years’ experience. Her main interest is exploring how people can improve their health and well-being in their everyday life. When she isn’t writing, Jane can often be found with her nose in a good book, at the gym, or just spending quality time with her family.

Any reproduction or use of this article requires approval from The Reading Tub and Jane Sandwood.