If you think about all the important things you do to ensure your child’s healthy development, does reading ever make it on to your list? It should. While many of us know that our children’s healthy development depends a great deal on good nutrition, plenty of sleep, and exercise to name a few, there’s less awareness about how literacy can play a role in a child’s healthy development.
The word ‘literacy’ means a person’s ability to read and write—but its implications mean so much more. People need reading and writing skills in virtually every aspect of their lives. Without these skills, a person can face serious problems that can affect their health as well as their social and economic outcomes.
Parents and caregivers therefore play a crucial role in shaping a child’s early reading experiences, ones that lay the foundation for the skills needed later in life. What’s more, early exposure to language—whether through books, words, or songs— can foster warm and nurturing interactions between children and their parents or caregivers.