A great psychologist once told me that one of the best things a parent can do is read to their kids. Yes, we hear that message a lot – usually, on the television. Linguistic programming and cognitive expansion represent but a few of the many benefits that can come from reading to our kids.
Some of my fondest memories as a child involved reading books with my mom and dad. My mom, in particular, spent hours reading me Dr. Seuss, The Boxcar Children series, The Berenstain Bears, and much more. Specifically, I remember my mom’s rendition of Papa Bear’s voice, which sounded remarkably like my dad. Although this time set me leaps and bounds ahead of my classmates, I believe that the bonding that occurred was the most beneficial. Additionally, this bond made me more secure in my relationships at school. Some research has evidenced that a secure bond with a parent or guardian may also promote healthy emotional regulation and peer relationships (see Contreras, Kerns, Weimer, Gentzler, and Tomich, 2000).
I realize that as someone who is not yet a parent, this post may, in itself, seem like blind advice. Yet, my hope is that any parents or future parents who read this may be inspired to sit down with their kiddo and read to them, even if only for a while.
–Kyler Shumway