Reading to Children is Key to Future Critical Thinking Skills

What is your bedtime routine with your children?  Get them a glass of water?  Give them a bath?  Read a book?  Did you know the simple act of reading a book to your child at bedtime helps create the foundation for future critical thinking skills?

Each time you sit down to read with your children you open their eyes to a new topic, improve their communication skills, broaden their knowledge base, build an interest in future reading, and allow them to use their imagination.  There are countless benefits to reading to your children at every age.

In addition, each time you read a book with your children, you have the opportunity to build their critical thinking skills.  Engaging your children in the act of reading a book (even before they can read) helps them become active participants in the story.  Tonight, as you read your kids a bedtime story, try to ask them questions along the way.  Get them thinking instead of just listening.

• Why is Llama Llama mad at mama?  How should Llama Llama tell mama about his feelings?
• If you had Harold’s purple crayon, what would you draw?
• Is it dangerous for Curious George to go explore on his own?  Should he ask the Man with the Yellow Hat before he crosses the street?
• Why did Pinkalicious’s parents warn her not to eat too many pink cupcakes?  Why didn’t she listen?
• What makes Fancy Nancy unique?  What kinds of friends would Fancy Nancy like?
• If you owned Walter the Farting Dog, how would you try to make his farting stop?

In honor of International Literacy Day, ask your children questions tonight as you read their bedtime story.  Build their critical thinking skills and watch their imagination grow as you interact!

What is your favorite children’s book?