9 Benefits of Reading Values-Based Books Along With Your Children

Krystle Degraide on March 1, 2022

Every parent wants their child to grow up into a productive and kind adult. But how can you effectively instill good values in a young person? Studies have shown that one of the most beneficial activities for children is reading values-based and pro-life books together with their caregivers. Not only does this help with empathy and compassion, but it also improves child literacy.

Nowadays, many children spend a significant amount of time alone in front of a screen. This can lead to loneliness, aggression, and a lack of social skills. By choosing to read books to your child instead of letting them watch TV or play on the iPad, you can help them improve their academic performance, mental health, and emotional intelligence. Let’s have a closer look at the benefits of reading aloud to your little one.

9 Benefits of Reading Values-Based Books Along With Your Children

1. Reading Aloud Increases Child Literacy 

Almost half of the young people in the US do not enjoy reading and would consistently choose watching TV or playing on an electronic device over picking up a book. What’s more, 5% of kids have significant trouble learning to read due to cognitive impairment or developmental delays. By reading aloud to your little ones, you can help them discover the magic of books. 

Experts recommend that you begin reading short picture books to your child as soon as possible. In fact, some parents start telling their little one value-based stories even before he or she is born. By incorporating reading into everyday life, you can normalize this behavior and show your child how important and pleasurable it is. As a result, they will be much more motivated to learn to read early on.

2. Pro-Life Books Instill Good Values in Children 

Although reading in itself is a rewarding activity, you can further increase the educational value by making sure the quality of the books you choose is high. Think about the values you would like to instill in your young child and select stories accordingly. For example, The Story of You by Krystle Joy DeGraide explains a child’s journey in the womb and therefore touches on the sanctity of life. It could be a great starting point for pro-life discussions. 

Similarly, there are many books that focus on kindness, compassion, loyalty, humility, and other positive traits you might want to expose your child to. If you have trouble finding appropriate stories, you could reach out to other parents in your circle of friends or contact Krystle. She runs a newsletter with helpful tips for parents, and she’d be happy to give you some suggestions for high-quality children’s books.

3. You Spend Quality Time with Your Children 

Many parents lead busy lives that include a job, projects on the side, hobbies, and friends. With so many commitments, it can be hard to spend a lot of quality time with the children. But if you’d like to instill good values in them, interacting with and talking to your little ones is crucial. A great way to bond is to snuggle down with a good book and escape into another world. Your children will remember and cherish storytime with you for the rest of their lives. 

4. You Reduce Screen Time 

If you’re an older parent, you might not have grown up with mobile phones, tablets, and iPads. But our children have to learn to handle these devices at a young age, especially as they are frequently used in kindergartens and schools. It makes sense to teach kids the basics and help them understand technology early on, but you should limit screen time to make sure there are no negative consequences. 

Excessive time spent on electronic devices can cause a lack of social skills, anxiety and depression, sleep problems, physical issues such as neck or back pain, and obesity. What’s more, it impairs concentration and focus. Instead of allowing your child to watch videos for a prolonged period of time, expose them to values-based books. When you read together, your child will be just as entertained as they would be if they were playing with a device.

5. Your Child Can Explore Emotions and Develop Empathy 

Although academic development and child literacy are important, emotional IQ is just as crucial. By reading pro-life books with your child, you can build up their empathy so they grow up to be considerate and caring individuals. But reading a book alone isn’t enough, and you should always speak to your child about the topics covered in a story. 

You could begin by asking them comprehension questions, so you can make sure they have understood the storyline. Then, you can dig deeper into the emotions of the various characters. Questions like “Why did this character act this way?”, “What did they feel?”, and “What would you do in this situation?” can encourage your child to think critically and develop their emotional intelligence.

6. Your Child’s Vocabulary and Communication Skills Will Improve 

Having a wide vocabulary is important because it can improve academic performance and help your child to express themselves better in a wide variety of situations. Reading aloud can be a fun and stress-free way of developing your child’s understanding of the English language and giving them a head-start. Not only will they learn more words, but they will also understand linguistic structures at an earlier age. This will make them more effective communicators.
To make sure the vocabulary and concepts are appropriate for your child, you should select your books carefully. Fortunately, many stories come with age guidelines, so you can figure out which ones are a good choice for your little one’s current developmental stage.

7. Problematic Behaviors Can Be Controlled 

While reading aloud is good for everyone, parents of kids with special needs often notice that this activity is especially effective at calming down their children and helping them regulate difficult emotions. When you snuggle down with your child and tell them an engaging story, they are temporarily transported to a different world. As a result, they can forget their problems, which helps their minds and bodies to calm down.

Because of its soothing effect, reading aloud is often used as part of therapy for children with ADHD, autism, or learning difficulties. It can reduce anxiety and allow children to get a break from their challenging situations. What’s more, books that address issues faced by children with special needs can make them feel less alone.

8. Children Can Develop their Own Imagination 

There is something magical about a child’s imagination. Many adults state that the thing they miss most about their childhood is the worlds and characters they created in their heads. In addition to being fun, imagining scenarios can help children process their reality and develop a wide variety of skills. But to allow your child to build up their own stories, you must first expose them to ones created by others.

You can foster your young learner’s imagination by discussing the pro-life books you read and encouraging them to continue the story. Together, you and the child can come up with a sequel or choose one of the characters and invent a new plot. This kind of activity will improve child literacy as well as your little one’s ability to think creatively and problem solve, and it can be a great way to spend an afternoon together.

9. You Can Use the Book as a Starting Point for Other Activities 

If you’d like to teach your child positive values, you can use a storybook as a starting point and base other activities on it. Begin by reading the story to your child and discussing the characters and issues at hand. Then, encourage your young learner to create something related to the book. For instance, the child could draw the characters, create the setting out of play-doh, or collaborate with friends to develop a play based on the story. 

Additionally, you can remind your child of the values they learned in the book by incorporating the ideas into everyday life. If the topic of the book was the miracle of life, you can take your child to see a friend with a baby. Your little one can experience first-hand how sweet younger children are and what kind of care they need. Similarly, if the book was about helping others, you could encourage your child to help out their friends and relatives in day-to-day life.

There are many reasons why reading aloud to your children and discussing pro-life books with them is a good idea. In addition to helping them learn good values from a young age, this improves child literacy, reduces their screen time, and helps them control challenging emotions. To make the experience even more impactful, you can further develop the stories you read and base other activities on them.

If you’re struggling to find a good book to get started with, you should give The Story of You a try. This beautifully illustrated book explains to young children how they were created. It incorporates important concepts such as the sanctity of life and the importance of kindness. Contact Krystle Joy DeGraide today to find out more and join her email list.

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