Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Sarah Jensen reads to her children daily, fostering early literacy and bonding.
- Reading aloud enhances vocabulary, comprehension and listening, says Dr. Neal Davis.
- Intermountain Health's Reach Out and Read program provides books during well-child visits.
EAGLE MOUNTAIN — Sarah Jensen reads to her kids every day.
"I wanted them to learn to love to read from an early age," she said. "Every night before bed, we read, we sing a song, then we say goodnight, and that's just kind of our thing."
But for the mom of three, it's much more than just a routine.
"I love the idea of this physical book that they can flip through and read and explore, that we can point out aspects of the colored photos together," she said. "They are more articulate. They love to communicate, and I think that comes from that early introduction, that desire to keep on learning as they see that there's so many options out there that they can pick up and read about."
Her son, Jordan, who is in kindergarten, is reading at a second-grade level. Jensen attributes that to reading out loud to him ever since he was a baby.
Research shows that reading aloud to kids can build vocabulary, improve comprehension and promote listening skills.
"It's about literacy, for sure. It's more about the relationship," said Dr. Neal Davis, a pediatrician and medical director of pediatric community-based care at Intermountain Health.
Davis said not only does reading have clear cognitive benefits, but it forms a special bond between parent and child.
"It builds resilience so that when they experience hardship, they have a sense of stability from that safe, stable, nurturing relationship," he said.
Books can also be a great way to discuss emotions with kids.
"Hopefully we'll see them learn to treat others kindly because they can read their facial expressions and understand what they may be feeling because they learned about it in a book first," Jensen said.
If you're not in the habit of reading to your kids, Dr. Davis said it's OK to start small.
"It is not easy to be a parent with all the demands that people face," he said. "Do the best you can. Enjoy that experience and over time, it will make a big difference."
As part of a literacy program called Reach Out and Read, Intermountain Health providers give out age-appropriate books during well-child visits for kids ages 6 months to 5 years, as well as demonstrate how parents can read to their children.
Reach Out and Read is available in Intermountain Health pediatric clinics, some family medicine clinics, FQHCs and affiliated pediatric offices through the Wasatch Front and in St. George.
