Beginning reading habits at an early age supports intellectual growth and development. By cultivating a love of reading in children from a young age, parents can set them on a path to success and lifelong love of learning.

A strong reading habit at an early age not only enhances language skills, but also positively impacts cognitive abilities. Research has consistently shown that reading boosts vocabulary development, improves concentration, and enhances memory retention. These cognitive benefits empower children to excel academically as they get older.

Reading from an early age can also instill a sense of routine. When children establish a regular reading schedule, it becomes a healthy habit that they carry into adulthood. Regular reading sessions become a source of comfort and relaxation.

The great thing is you can start reading habits with your child right from birth! Engage a child’s senses by singing, rhyming, and talking to them. Babies will develop listening skills and form an interest in sounds and words. When your baby eventually learns certain patterns of sounds and tries to copy them, reading books aloud, showing pictures, and letting babies handle the books themselves encourages them to learn visual recognition and to identify what they hear with what they see.

Of course, no one expects an infant to read, but simply letting them hold a book can start the process of getting them familiar with books and reading materials. A normal part of developing early literacy skills for very young children is repetition, so don’t be afraid to read the same storybook or look at the same pictures repeatedly. Board books and soft books are good for infants to get used to holding a book in their hands (even if it eventually ends up in their mouths).

As your child grows, you can continue to promote literacy at home, and not just by reading books- telling stories with your family, flipping through photo albums, writing notes to each other, sending emails to far-away family members, and using the library together are all great ways to foster family literacy activities. A love of reading starts at an early age, and often starts at home. If the whole family can try to encourage and support literacy, children have a higher chance of enjoying reading for the rest of their lives.



Reading aloud and exploring books together from an early age significantly improves a child’s language and literacy development. For my own child and I, reading aloud together is our favorite part of the bedtime routine. While a good goal to reach is 15 minutes of reading aloud every day, I must admit, we don’t always make it to 15 minutes. But even if we read for five minutes, or if we do ten minutes in the afternoon and five at night, we make it a habit to squeeze in reading aloud with a well-loved book; and perhaps you and your family can make it a fun habit too!