Getting an idea of the vast mass of knowledge in the world can only be gained by reading.

Getting an idea of the vast mass of knowledge in the world can only be gained by reading.

If you want your children to be smart they have to acquire a love of reading, which can be instilled in them as early as their first few months by reading to them.

Studies have demonstrated that reading to your child has many priceless benefits.

For example, a study was done at Rhode Island Hospital in the United States to compare two groups of eight-month-olds. One group was read to often as babies while the other was not.

It was shown that those who were read to had their "receptive" vocabularies (the number of words they understand) increased by 40 percent since babyhood, while the non-reading group increased by only 16 percent.

In fact, reading to children is one of the most effective ways of building the "language" neural connections in their growing brains.

Other benefits of reading to your children:

lReading to your children makes you bond with them.

lReading to your children is such a pleasurable experience that it promotes a positive attitude towards reading as they grow up.

lReading calms your children, especially when they are fretful and restless.

lReading promotes increased communication between you and your children.

lPre-school children who are exposed to language by hearing words that are read to them, and in conversation, tend to do well in school.

lReading promotes a longer attention span, enhancing their ability to concentrate.

lReading to children builds their listening skills and imagination, teaching them about colours, shapes, numbers and letters.

lBooks teach children about relationships, situations, personalities and the good and, or bad in the world. - Raise Smart Kids