The Benefits of Reading Aloud to Children

The Article by Dominic W. Massaro, Reading Aloud to Children: Benefits and Implications for Acquiring Literacy Before Schooling Begins, Published by the University of Illinois Press, is a in depth assessment of the implications of reading aloud to children before they begin schooling. With new research being discussed and teaching styles revamped, studies like these are very common, and seek to help educators and parents find how to best help their children. 

The method for data collection was a series of observations which were then assigned values and input into 5 separate equations to make the data sheets more readable for educators in the U.S.  “A study tracked the eye movements of 4-year-old children during reading aloud sessions while sitting on the lap of the reader.” (Massaro).  The test used a combination of styles of picture books, each with different layouts designed to attract eye attention. 

It was found that the children spent the majority of time looking at the pictures, rather than the words, however there was no significant difference between the different layouts or color patterns. The main finding was a direct relationship between reading to children and advanced reading comprehension. simultaneously they found that the words being used in picture books was of a higher difficulty than most words used in everyday conversation. This helped the children to have a wider and more in-depth understanding of how to read and comprehend, rather than memorizing and reading just to pass. 

Like anything, being read to is not just for children. The process can be therapeutic for many, and the popularity of audio books is a perfect example of this. The trust placed in another can form deep and meaningful bonds between individuals, and in the context of parenting, can help to strengthen that relationship. While most of the learning or developmental benefits do not directly translate to adult readers, being read to, or reading to someone else can be a very enjoyable experience. 

As you may remember, even you were a child once, and even you had to spend time to learn what you know now. It didn't come from a magic wish or a life underground, but from being exposed to new things. Children are often smarter than most realize, and all it takes is a little time and effort to grow their passions and knowledge. Reading is a major cornerstone of our learning experience

This writing expresses the importance of reading to children in the long term, and the immediate benefits to children and educators. While this essay does not look at every possible avenue and application, it does provide an excellent starting point for future research and advancements for educators in school and for parents at home.