Encourage Reading with a Book Stash for Young Readers

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - July 24, 2020 - PRLog -- One of the best ways to support all three of these sometimes-conflicting goals is to build a good book stash. Stocking your home with a variety of interesting and age-appropriate books can help you help your kids, especially during this strange and unprecedented pandemic time.

Of course, the benefits of reading are clear. Reading boosts children's vocabularies. It strengthens their language acquisition and helps them sequence events, which are important fundamentals in the development of both expressive and receptive language skills. It gives children a safe way to learn about their emotions and how to express themselves. Reading enriches children's imaginations and gives them a way to spend quality time with parents and caregivers.

Not all reading is created equal, though. While e-readers and tablets can have a place in a child's reading, neuroscience research has shown that reading on a screen and paper are fundamentally different. Reading paper books and magazines exercises linear reading and deep reading skills, which can boost comprehension and contribute to building longer attention spans. Screens are less conducive to building these skills. In addition, the blue light from screens can throw off our biological clocks (our circadian rhythms), interfering with our sleep. In children, recent longitudinal research has pointed out a possible connection between screen time and the development of memory, attention, and language skills.

Of course, as we cope with this pandemic and its upheaval of the familiar routines of life, most parents are feeling stretched to their limits. Whether your child has had more screentime than normal matters less than health, safety, and security at the moment. With access to libraries and bookstores more limited than during normal times, though, having a home book stash becomes more important than ever.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you build your book stash:

Choose age-appropriate titles

Make a wide variety of material available

Help them understand

Look for ways to enhance connection

Build your book stash by browsing our series of titles for emerging readers, parents, and educators.

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