While most children love their screen time, there is much more to be said for storytelling. Reading to your child, especially before they start preschool, has a substantial amount of benefits. Here are a few to consider.

4 Reasons That Storytime Is Great for Children

1. Foster Imagination

When children are read to, they imagine the story in their heads. They can picture the people, places, and objects however they choose. This helps encourage their imagination, which, in turn, boosts creativity. An active imagination and creativity foster cognitive and social development, and imagination also plays a key role in problem-solving skills.

2. Boost Communication Skills

Storytime is an opportune time to encourage children to ask questions. They can point out words they don’t know and ask about the characters’ motivations. Storytime readers can ask them what they think and feel about the story and the characters. The more you or the reader talk with your child about the story, the better their communication skills become.

3. Broaden Cultural Understanding

Stories can introduce your child to other cultures and societies, which helps broaden their cultural understanding. They experience worlds they otherwise would have never known existed. This helps prepare them for preschool and beyond, as they will meet children from different backgrounds. They will have more empathy and less judgment as they age.

4. Improve Social Skills

Sometimes, children have difficulty focusing on one task for extended periods, including listening when other people speak. Reading to them helps them practice not interrupting and learning that other people may not experience events and actions the same way they do. These social skills are useful for when they start attending preschool and need to interact with children and adults outside of their normal social circles.

Let the experts at Lil Smarties Learning Center in Ferguson, MO, read to your child during daycare. This early childhood center is led by skilled and nurturing child care providers. It offers a preschool program for toddlers to provide quality teaching and begin their education on the right foot. Call them at (314) 473-1233 or learn more about their services on their website.