This Is Why Reading Matters
When I was a kid, my mom read to me every night. I vividly remember the comforting sound of her voice and the warmth of our handmade quilt as she read Charlotte's Web, My Side of the Mountain, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Harry Potter. It was this nightly routine that sparked my wild imagination and my passion for writing and reading.
It was those experiences as a child, begging my mom to read one more chapter, that prompted me to be here today, asking two favors of you.
My first favor is this: If you are not already a reader, become a reader. (I can help you with this!)
Healthline provides staggering research in favor of reading. Regular reading:
improves brain connectivity
increases your vocabulary and comprehension
empowers you to empathize with other people
aids in sleep readiness and reduces stress
lowers blood pressure and heart rate
fights depression symptoms
prevents cognitive decline as you age
contributes to a longer life
It is never too late to become a reader and take advantage of the life changing benefits.
I wish for all my students to have positive relationships, a career they truly love, the confidence to chase their dreams, and a drive to change the world. I believe developing a love of reading is a significant step in this direction.
Now, my second favor won’t be cashed in for some time. Someday, if you have children, read to them EVERY SINGLE DAY.
The benefits of reading to your children are worth noting here and worth sharing with the world.
Reading to your children:
Supports cognitive development
Improves language skills
Prepares them for academic success
Develops a special bond with your child
Increases concentration and discipline
Improves imagination and creativity
Cultivates a lifelong love of reading
I passionately believe that the world would be a better place for our children, and for our children’s children, if all parents spent just 10 minutes a day reading to their kids. I want to broadcast this message to the world: READ TO YOUR KIDS!
Even children born into poverty or into other extreme circumstances have a significant advantage in life if their parents or guardians read to them.
Reading with your children sends a clear message: I love you and I care about your future.
Imagine a world where all parents read to their children every night.
Imagine a world where all expecting parents read baby books, did the research, gained experience, and felt prepared to raise healthy and happy babies.
Imagine a world where children believed they could be anything they wanted, and then those children grew up to be smart and loving parents.
Education is the answer to helping all children thrive, and reading is the simplest way to provide all children with an education and more opportunities.
So what can you do now? You can read. Read to your siblings. Read to your parents. Read to your grandparents. Become a lifelong reader. And then someday, if you have children, READ TO THEM and help them grow up believing that they too can change the world.
If just one of you begins to read more from listening to my speech, then I will have succeeded. If just one of you decides here and now that you will become a lifelong reader, and that you will someday read to your children, then you are making our world a better place.
Sources:
Stanborough, R. J. (2019, October 15). Benefits of reading books: For your physical and mental health. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-reading-books#builds-vocabulary .
