Family literacy activities, in which children and adults are engaged in reading and learning together, offer a range of benefits for both kids and their parents. It’s well understood how reading to (and with) children improves their reading comprehension, success in school and overall confidence. In fact, similar benefits occur for adult learners in the family as well.
KET’S Early Childhood Education Specialist, Emily Cornett advises parents, “From the time they are newborns, reading to your child will build their language skills, encourage empathy and emotional awareness, and create a connection between child and caregiver that will help them become life-long learners. Reading and talking with your child is simply one of the best ways to prepare them for school.” Of course, the adults in the family, especially adult learners, can gain significant value from these experiences as well.
When parents read aloud to their children, they can enhance their own reading fluency and comprehension, as well as enhancing their communication skills as they encourage discussion about books and stories.
These shared learning experiences also provide motivation for adults in the family to continue their learning journeys, while fostering a love of reading and learning in their kids. In fact, many adults returning to the classroom express that demonstrating a confident and positive role model to their children is an important incentive to continue their education.
Take a look at this helpful resource from Reading Rockets, an initiative of WETA public media, that shares tips for parents of all ages and many different languages to support their kids’ literacy and love of reading.