Raising A Reader’s National Director talks with Michael F. Shaughnessy in Early Education
Early Education: Why is reading aloud to children so important?
Dr. Miller: We know that there is a tremendous amount of growth in a young child’s brain. Over 700 neural connections are made in a young child’s brain per second- which is simply staggering to think about. Those essential connections represent the cognitive, language, and social-emotional framework through which a child develops. Positive, supportive relationships with young children in which caring adults take the time to communicate are critical to build all three areas. While talking, singing, playing, spending time together are very powerful, reading to children is perhaps the most powerful way to support cognitive and language development.