Many hold
the belief that reading to a newborn stands as simply unnecessary and absurd.
Some may ask, “How can something as complex as reading matter to a newborn
baby?” While others pose the question, “Is it not simply a waste of time to
read to a newborn?” However, reading to a newborn presents itself as one of the
greatest benefits one can give to a child. Reading to a newborn brings success
by increasing their intelligence, strengthening their relationship, and
developing their imagination.
The intelligence
of a newborn increases by broadening their range of vocabulary, recognition,
and learning. A newborn who receives the privilege of a parent reading to them
obtains a greater vocabulary. This stems from the higher extent of time spent
retaining words in their brain. Reading not only boosts their range of vocabulary,
it also culminates their ability to recognize the basics of literature. “Davis
psychology Professor Linda Acredolo stated, ‘Settling in for frequent story
times will also introduce her to the basic concepts of literacy. As you read,
she’ll begin to grasp that the letters on the page have meaning and that they
must be read from left to right.’”[1]
When one reads to a newborn, they enable a higher level of learning to engulf
the child. A child who reaps the benefits of time spent in reading versus a child
who suffers the loss of time spent in reading reaches a vastly different amount
of total hours by the time that child reaches age five.[2]
Due to the fact that a newborn learns primarily through sight and audio, a
newborn’s speaking, recognizing, and learning abilities greatly benefit from
parents who read to them.
Taking the quality
time to read to a newborn gives way to the vitally important bonding
relationship. Without a strong parent-child bond, the newborn lacks the
capabilities of reaching their full development. “Secure early bonding is the
difference between the baby that grows up a secure, emotionally capable adult,
and a baby that will become a depressive, anxious child, who will not cope well
with life’s ups and downs.”[3]
Through reading, one can relay the message to the newborn that you care about
them and desire to spend quality time with them. Thus, reading to a newborn
establishes an earlier and greater parent-child bond.
Reading to
a newborn creates a broadened realm for their imagination to develop and to
reach its full potential. Though a newborn lacks the capability of detecting
certain things right away, reading opens doors to things they would not
otherwise obtain. It builds a strong foundation on which they can create
thoughts that would otherwise not exist as possible to create. Newborns who
achieve the privilege of listening to books generally embrace a greater
imagination due to the broadened realm of thought presented to them.
Reading
to a newborn brings success by increasing their intelligence, strengthening
their relationship, and developing their imagination. The newborn receives the
blessing of a stronger foundation to build upon in his later years. By
listening to their parents read from the beginning of their days, newborns
obtain a higher chance of succeeding throughout the remainder of their life.
[1]
Heidi Reeves, “Activities to Boost a Baby's
Intelligence,” Live Strong, September 3, 2015, accessed May 2, 2016, http://www.livestrong.com/article/121649-activities-boost-babys-intelligence/.
[2]
“Raising Readers,” Archived Information,
accessed May 2, 2016, https://www2.ed.gov/pubs/startearly/ch_1.html.
[3]
Andrea Leadsom, “Why Secure Early Bonding Is
Essential for Babies,” The Guardian, September 12, 2012, accessed May 2, 2016, http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2012/sep/12/secure-early-bonding-essential-babies.
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