Pediatrics in Brevard: The value of reading to your child is immeasurable
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” — Dr. Seuss
That saying is extremely fitting given the beloved children’s author, Theodor Seuss Geisel, would celebrate his 117th birthday March 2 on National Read Across America Day.
In 1998, the National Education Association (NEA) established National Read Across America Day to help children become excited about reading.
On this day, teachers across the country celebrate the joy of reading with students by encouraging them to read and interact with storybooks such as Dr. Seuss’s famous “The Cat in the Hat.”
Teachers look to inspire children to use their imagination and explore far-away places through adventures to which books can provide.
From a clinical standpoint, reading to children is important for the child’s development.
Reading with and to them helps enhance literacy skills, though the interaction extends far beyond learning.
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found children whose parents read to them from infancy until they are 3 years old had significantly less aggression, inattention and hyperactive behavior when entering kindergarten.