The Most Important Teacher

I was recently asked to talk about the importance of reading at a Bundles for Babies program conducted by the Airman and Family Readiness Center. In case you're unfamiliar with this program, it gives parents-to-be tips on parenting along with helpful local resources.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and although I won't contest that claim, I will also stress that the most important teacher your child will have is you. Yes, YOU, the parent. It may not be obvious, but your baby is learning from you long before he or she starts speaking. A child's mind is like a sponge absorbing all that's around, and when it comes to reading, there's no such thing as too early.

When you read to your baby on your lap, your baby is listening to sounds, to language. He or she is learning how to communicate with the words that you speak. Reading to your child is also a bonding experience, something the two of you can do together. Time spent reading together helps your child associate reading with love and as an enjoyable activity to anticipate. Once your child is talking, you can discuss what you read together and teach different things through examples shown in a book.

It may seem like a lot of pressure (and it is), but reading to your child is setting him or her up for later in life. Reading encourages empathy, promotes an attention span, expands the imagination, and develops reasoning abilities. All these qualities will help in elementary school through college and beyond. School teachers, librarians, coaches, and others will provide support and do their part, but as the parent, you are the foremost teacher in your child's life now and in the years to come.

Wishing you and your child wonderful times reading from the perch.