Read to That Child!

 

Robert Fettgather is a co-founder of Tashi Lhunpo Buddhist Sangha in Palo Alto, California. While a student of Buddhism and a teacher of psychology, he also engages in activism and advocacy in an effort to serve his community. Robert Fettgather is an avid reader.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for children under two. The Academy further recommends that--

“Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships at a critical time in child development, which, in turn, builds language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime...”

Reflection Point: What would you say to a person who claimed that reading to an infant or a toddler is a waste of time because of their limited language skills?  If a toddler doesn’t want to be read to, do you think his parents or teachers should try to get him interested in books? If so, how do you think they should go about it?

Some classics are very readable after all. “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!” – Dr. Seuss

Think about this: some studies have noted that young children whose parents read to them daily have been exposed to at least 290,000 more words (wow) by the time they enter kindergarten than kids who aren’t read to regularly. Expanding language and vocabulary, not to mention social connections between parent and child, are very worthwhile, indeed.