Preschool-aged children are at a crucial stage of toddler development. In addition to picking up skills like counting, they are also learning social skills and the ability to analyze from their environment. The stories they hear—and internalize—also make a difference in their future, as the guide below explains.

Why Children Should Be Exposed to Books Early

1. Learn to Like Reading

We tend to excel in the activities we enjoy the most. Children who regularly have adults read to them learn to associate that attention with books and to look forward to the stories they are introduced to. This makes them more likely to want to read themselves.

2. Learn About the World

Books are a way of introducing ourselves to experiences and cultures we wouldn’t get to know without them. Even those books dealing with fictional topics, like fairy tales, often contain crucial lessons about the importance of being a positive influence in the world and how to stand up in the face of adversity. This allows your son or daughter to gain experience by proxy.

3. Increase Verbal Fluency

Children ages three to four are the best equipped to pick up new vocabulary easily. The more words your child hears, and the more often they hear them, the more they will understand. They'll also learn to express their own complex thoughts in precise language. 

4. Improve Listening Skills

Auditory processing—meaning the ability to hear and understand what’s being said—is a skill that needs to be learned. Listening to their preschool teacher read helps exercise this part of the brain so children can process what they hear more quickly and easily. Stories also help increase their attention span, as they become invested in what happens next.

5. Practice Visual Discrimination

The drawings in children's books don't always just illustrate the words; they can also provide extra information about the characters, setting, and action. As children listen to stories and see the accompanying images, they learn to compile this information together to grasp the bigger picture.

To give your children a quality preschool education, with attention paid to arts, physical activity, and story time, choose World of Knowledge Child Development Center in Lincoln, NE. Serving Lancaster County, they have almost a decade of experience helping kids develop the skills they need for the future. Check them out online to learn about their programs. See reviews from happy parents on Facebook. Then, to enroll your child, call (402) 483-4769.