Reasons to Read to Your Toddler
Communication is an essential skill that every human on the planet needs to have. After all, no one lives in a bubble. And how does one communicate? With words. Luckily for us, our children were born with the ability to absorb everything around them, including language. If you think about it, a child picks up an extraordinary amount of words just what they hear before they can even read. In fact, a toddler between the ages of two and three can pick up about 10 new words per day! This is all before they can read.
Step by Step is a daycare center in Hoboken. We offer exceptional early learning programs for all children from infants to preschool. We also offer great after school programs for children up to age 13. In addition, we offer fun-filled summer camps that will keep your child active and keep them learning all summer long. Below, we’ll go over some important reasons to read to your toddler. Contact our daycare center to get started today!
REASONS TO READ TO YOUR TODDLER
Aids in Language Development
As we’ve mentioned, children absorb what they hear in their environment. Thus, when you read to your infant, toddler, or preschooler, they will be exposed to many different vocabulary words that are different than what you use on a daily basis. This will strengthen their vocabulary and language skills. There is no need to worry about if a book is too difficult for your child to understand. Just being exposed to the language and the words will prepare them for when they hear that word again when they are older.
Improves Literacy Skills
Learning to read can be difficult for some children. However, if they have been read to on a regular basis as an infant or a toddler, when it comes time to develop literacy skills, they will have a solid foundation of the sounds words make and what these words look like on paper. Phonics, or the study of the sound letters make, is often the first step in teaching children to read. By having heard thousands of words spoken to them, they will have a solid grasp of the sounds speech makes, giving them a let up when putting those sounds with a written letter.
Develops a Love of Reading
In a world dominated by screens, parents need all the help they can get when it comes to getting their children off screens. When you read to your child at an early age, including as a toddler, you will help to foster a love of reading. Children love stories that have a great arch where the good guy wins. Reading them classic literature with great endings can foster an excitement to storytelling that you can truly only get from books.
Exposes Your Child to Different Cultures
One of the best things about books is that you are able to visit different worlds, different time periods, and different cultures. You are able to experience different ways of living, which shows young children that there are other ways to do things and that’s okay. It shows young children that there are other people of different colors, races, and with different abilities. Giving your child a different perspective will help them with social interactions in the future as well and any misunderstandings, too. Our daycare center in Hoboken is passionate about instilling an appreciation of diversity in our students. Learn more today.
Develops Imagination
Books open up whole other worlds that otherwise would not be possible. When you read to your child a well-written book, their imaginations take off, and they picture the characters and the places you are reading about. As you age, you can lose your imagination due to the constant reality you are faced with. By reading to your child, you are able to develop a strong imagination so that they retain that ability even in their adult world. If your child ever tells you “that’s not the way I imagined the character” after seeing the movie version of the book you’ve read, then you know your reading time was well spent.
CHOOSE STEP BY STEP SCHOOL IN HOBOKEN TODAY
Step by Step deems it a privilege to be able to care for your children at our daycare center in Hoboken. We understand what a responsibility it is that you have chosen us to help with your child’s education. We have poured our heart and souls into developing an age-appropriate curriculum that will help put your child on the right path to success. We have only chosen the best teachers who are caring and compassionate to be the stewards of your children. Our daycare center takes the safety of your children seriously, which includes those who interact with them the most. All of our teachers have been thoroughly vetted, are experienced, and have passed background and drug tests.
The toddler years are when your child begins to “toddle” around. This is usually considered to be around one year old and then through age three. This is a rapid stage of development for your child, as they are learning so much about the world around them, including motor and social skills, as well as emotional changes. Here at our daycare, we’ve divided up our toddlers into age groups in six-month increments so that our curriculum can better be tailored to their needs. We focus on things such as developing relationships with peers, understanding cause and effect, and reading. There is so much we do in a day around here!
If you are interested in joining our daycare in Hoboken, give Step by Step School a call today!