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When Is The Right Time To Start Reading To Your Kid? Find Out Here

reading a book to a child

Reading to your child can be a fun and educational experience for both you and your child. Some studies even show that reading to your kid is the single best activity for helping with their development in early years, including language skills and vocabulary.

However, when is the right time to start reading to your kid? There isn't an exact age when it should happen, but there are some clues you can look at if you're wondering whether or not now is the right time.

6 Months

Child development experts say that the best time to start reading to your child is when they are six months old. This is because their brain is still in development mode and will be able to learn new things more easily. Thanks to the coordination of children’s book editing service providers and child development experts, there are a lot of children’s books that are designed for this age group. You don’t have to worry if the content is age-appropriate, and will also have plenty of books to choose from. Most stories for children of this age are short, simple, and very easy to read.

One of the benefits of reading to your child at this age is that it can help improve their vocabulary. By exposing them to new words and sounds, you will help them learn to read and write more easily when they start school. Another benefit of reading to your child at this age is that it can help improve their cognitive skills. The mental stimulation that comes with hearing stories can help increase their problem-solving abilities and improve their ability to reason.

Reading a bedtime story is a popular way of doing this, but there are other times you can do it as well. You can read to them while they're taking a bath or playing on the floor with their toys; almost any time works as long as you're both enjoying it.

1 Year Old

Most pediatricians agree that the best time to start reading to your kid is when they are about 1 year old. This is when children typically develop the ability to understand and remember simple stories. You may also notice that kids around this age will begin developing what's called a pincer grip, which helps them hold things really well between their thumb and pointer finger. This makes books with thick seams easier for them to handle.

This is also the age when they can also start to learn new words. Reading to them will help expand their vocabulary and teach them how to use language to communicate. Starting reading sessions with your child who is around 1 year of age is a great way to begin bonding with your kid. Even if you do not notice much in the way of responsiveness, it is something that is very worthwhile for both you and your child, even when he or she isn't paying much attention.

2-3 Years Old

By the time your child is 2 or 3 years old, they become more interested in books and will be able to follow longer stories. They may even start asking questions about the plot.

Reading to them at this age can help boost their comprehension skills and teach them how to think critically about what they are reading. Additionally, since they respond to being read stories more at this age,  it can help strengthen the bond between you and your child.

4-5 Years Old

Approximately 4 to 5 years of age is when your kid will have more advanced knowledge of their world, which means you can start reading books about new subjects that may interest them. By this time, they should be able to engage in conversations about what they are reading. You can also introduce words that might not have been familiar before, such as the names of different colors and shapes.

However, it's important to note that kids at this age still love repetition (thank goodness for picture books!). So now is probably a great time to reread some of your old favorites like Goodnight Moon or Dr. Seuss's books. It'll help them develop stronger memories!

3-7 Years Old

By this time, your child should be able to easily read and understand the words in books on their own. You can help them sound out new words or challenge them by asking more complicated questions about what they've read. Additionally, know that kids at this age may want to reread their favorite stories over and over again! This is normal since it's part of how they learn new words and ways of looking at the world.

7-10 Years Old

This is a great time to introduce long chapter books with many different characters and adventures such as Harry Potter, A Series Of Unfortunate Events, The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, etc. Or if your kid wants something shorter you can always check out our selection of picture books.

10-11 Years Old

If your kid is in elementary school, they may be ready for longer chapter books. Some examples are The Hunger Games and Twilight. Also, at this age kids might be interested in learning about different writers and their motivations behind writing a certain story or poem. This can also be a great time to introduce them to classic authors like Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost and develop their interest in other forms of literature. At this time, they are gradually becoming independent readers, but still find time to sit and read with them. There may be complex words and concepts that they will come across, and being there to help them boosts their confidence, comprehension, and vocabulary. 

Teens/Adults

After your child turns 11 years old, they should be able to read novels on their own just fine. However, if they're having trouble understanding something you can always offer to help them out! As long as reading remains an enjoyable pastime your child will continue to enjoy it throughout their life no matter what age they are. It's only a matter of finding books on a topic they are interested in, so if they are into sports, try buying a book about baseball

So there you have it! The best time to start reading to your kid is when they are about six months to one year old and it just gets better from there. Don’t worry if you haven’t started that early. Your child can easily adapt and learn even if you read to them past their toddler years. Reading provides a wealth of benefits for children, so make sure to take the time to do it every day!