Topics

Browse

By age

Why Reading Aloud to Children Matters

Inbal Nevo-Fuchsman and Yael Lederer, Speech-Language Pathologists, Goshen – Promoting Child Health and Well-Being in the Community
19 July 2026

Reading books together with your child from a very young age is much more than an educational activity—it is quality time that strengthens the bond between parent and child while supporting development in many ways. Reading helps build language skills, boosts confidence in speaking, and encourages uninterrupted time together. It also introduces children to new worlds and cultures and provides a safe way to process difficult emotions and challenging situations, such as a visit to a doctor's office or starting a new preschool.

You can start reading to children at any age, even as newborns. Babies enjoy hearing a parent's voice and being held close. As children grow and develop, the way they participate changes—from looking at bright colors and simple pictures to actively joining the story, asking questions, and expressing their own thoughts.

Choose books that match your child's age: Babies need durable books with bold colors. Toddlers enjoy interactive books with repeated words or actions. Preschoolers benefit from simple stories that relate to their everyday experiences.

Tips for reading aloud: Choose a book that matches your child's attention span, ask questions during the story and talk about it together, use fun voices and body language, and extend the experience with activities beyond the book.

Ways to make reading part of your routine: Set aside a regular reading time, keep books in easy-to-reach places around the house, use waiting time as an opportunity to read, and follow up with activities related to the story, such as drawing, playing, or taking a related outing.

There is something truly special about the connection between a parent, a child, and a story. Reading aloud from an early age supports babies' and children's development in many ways, which we'll explore below, and increases the likelihood that they will grow into adults who enjoy reading. Above all, however, reading together is an irreplaceable quality time that brings parents and children closer.

The benefit of reading together

When you read a book aloud to your child, several things happen at the same time:

  • Language development

    Every word children hear helps build their vocabulary and language comprehension. Children who are regularly read to from an early age often begin speaking sooner, develop stronger language skills, and feel more confident communicating. Reading aloud during early childhood also helps prepare children to become independent readers and is associated with better academic performance in school.

  • Strengthening the parent-child bond

    Simply sitting close together and hearing a parent's voice gives children a sense of security. It is a time when you are not rushing, holding your phone, or focused on something else—you are fully present and spending quality time with your child. When reading a book becomes a regular bedtime routine, it provides children with a calming moment that creates closeness and security and helps them feel the sense of calm they need before going to sleep.

  • Exposure to new knowledge and imagination development

    Stories give children the opportunity to learn about distant countries, exotic animals, and different cultures—all without leaving home. Reading stories also stimulates imagination. Children imagine the characters, places, and events in the story. Stories also teach children about friendships, solving social problems, and creatively coping with challenges.

  • An opportunity to process complex situations

    Different situations, such as visiting a doctor's office, toilet training, or adjusting to preschool, may bring up strong and overwhelming emotions for children. Reading stories that address similar topics is a great way for children to process these feelings through the experiences of another character. It is also important to note that when children are emotionally engaged in a story and identify with the characters, they naturally become more focused and attentive.

When to start

The truth is, there is no need to wait—you can start reading at any age! Of course, reading stories will look different for a baby, toddler, or older child, and children can benefit from it at every age.

Even young babies enjoy listening to the different rhythms and tones of speech while a story is read aloud or a book is recited, as well as the close, shared time with a parent, sibling, or another caregiver.

What you can expect at different ages:

  • Up to 6 months: Your child will enjoy listening to your voice (although they may have difficulty looking at both the book and you at the same time). They will enjoy books with rhymes and short sentences and will be fascinated by your use of different voices and expressions.
  • From 6 months: Your child will begin to show interest in colors and simple pictures, treat the book as a toy and try to put it in their mouth, look back and forth between you and the pictures, and listen to meaningful sounds (for example, animal sounds).
  • From age 1: Your child will try to turn pages, follow your pointing to details in the pictures, and may try pointing themselves. They will answer simple questions such as "Where?" If the book has flaps, they may try to open them independently, use appropriate gestures, and complete repeated words or phrases in the story (for example, "Boom crash!").
  • From age 2: Your child will enjoy stories with repeated parts and participate at the appropriate moments. They will answer questions, ask questions themselves, and show you what interests them in the pictures.
  • From age 3: Your child will begin participating in familiar parts of the story and asking questions. They will be able to retell familiar stories and show you what interests them in the story.
  • From age 4: Your child will begin understanding stories with more complex plots, comment on and express opinions about characters' behavior ("Why did he do that?"), follow the sequence of events, begin identifying characters' emotions, and connect them to their own experiences.
  • From age 5: Your child may begin recognizing familiar words in the story independently, understand stories with more complex emotions and social situations, ask deeper questions ("Why did she do that?" "What will happen next?"), and share their thoughts about the story.
  • Elementary school: Your child may already be able to read independently, but reading together with a parent remains very important and enjoyable. It allows children to focus on more complex plots. Children at this age can understand stories with multiple storylines, participate in discussions about characters' emotions, moral values, and experiences from the story. They can also choose books independently with some guidance and begin developing preferences for certain genres.

It is important to remember that this is an ongoing, developing process, which is why early exposure to books is so important.

Choosing books based on age

What to look for:

  • At this age, children put everything in their mouths, bite, touch, press, and throw things. Therefore, durable books made from materials such as fabric or plastic are most suitable.
  • Books with simple, colorful pictures.
  • Touch-and-feel books with different textures.
  • Stories with rhymes and rhythm (short stories that can be recited, with repetition and sounds).
  • Stories with only a small amount of text.

How to read aloud:

  • It is recommended to vary your tone of voice, emphasize sounds, and repeat words.
  • You do not have to sit side by side. With young babies, you can lie on your back next to your baby and hold the book above you so they can see it. Your child can benefit from story time while sitting on your lap as you hold the book in front of you, as well as when sitting next to you or facing you and seeing your mouth and facial expressions.
  • Remember that you do not have to read the words on the page—you can also simply talk about what you see in the pictures.
  • There is no need to teach colors or numbers. If your child is interested in something in a picture, simply describe what it is and what it is doing. You can say, "Wow! What do we have here?" with excitement and then add more details.
  • Most importantly—try to make reading a pleasant and engaging activity. Give your child the opportunity to show you what interests them in each picture and talk about the things they are looking at or pointing to.

What to look for:

  • Books with pictures of familiar objects.
  • Interactive books with flaps to open or different textures to explore.
  • Very short stories about daily routines, such as eating, sleeping, and bath time.
  • Books with repeated parts (such as "Boom crash, what happened?" or "Bim bam bam"). Repetition captures children's attention and allows them to participate and complete familiar parts of the story themselves.

How to read aloud:

  • Choose books that match your child's attention span at this age, with one or two sentences per page. Pay attention to your child's ability to stay focused. If the story is too long, you can skip a few pages to reach the end and announce, "And that's the end!"
  • Use playful voices and emphasize sounds made by characters in the story (for example, a roar, crying, or barking).
  • When your child becomes familiar with the story, encourage them to participate in repeated parts and complete familiar words.

What to look for:

  • Stories with simple plots.
  • Topics that are relevant to children's world, such as family, food, trips, animals, and emotions.
  • Books about coping with challenges, such as making new friends at preschool, visiting a doctor's office, or having a new baby sibling.
  • Stories that include a challenge or problem followed by a solution.
  • Beautiful illustrations and text that parents will also enjoy reading aloud.

How to read aloud:

  • Choose a quiet and comfortable place without television or phones in the background. The goal is for your child to know that this is your special time together. It is recommended to have a regular reading time before bedtime as part of the bedtime routine, but reading at other times is also beneficial.
  • Children at this age will begin asking questions—sometimes many questions—such as "Who is that?" "What is that?" or "Why?" Encourage their questions and do not wait until the end of the story to answer. This is not an interruption—it is participation, and that is exactly what we want to encourage.
  • Use techniques that help children stay interested and engaged, such as changing your voice for different characters, using facial expressions and hand gestures, smiling when a character smiles, and showing surprise during unexpected moments.
  • You can pause during the story and ask your child simple questions, such as: "What do you think will happen next?" "Why is he crying?" or "Where is the dog?" Give your child time to think and answer. Children enjoy taking part in the story rather than only sitting and listening.
  • If your child switches to another book in the middle of reading, try to encourage them to finish the current book, even if you skip a few pages—but do not insist. This is meant to be a fun time together. If they want to stay on a particular page because they are interested in the illustration, allow it. Children notice details in pictures that adults do not always see, and each opportunity is an invitation for conversation.
  • Connect the story to your child's own life. For example: "Do you remember when you also fell and cried?" or "Do you remember when we saw a snail too?"

What to look for:

  • Stories with more complex plots, including suspense and more developed characters.
  • Book series that children can continue reading.
  • Books that raise moral and emotional questions.
  • Topics that are relevant to children their age, such as complex friendships, concerns about appearance, and secrets.
  • Books that address common challenges, such as having a parent in the military reserves, divorce, illness, or death in the family.
  • Richer text with fewer illustrations that are included mainly to support the plot.

How to read aloud:

  • Reading together remains very important, even when children can already read independently. When children do not need to focus their energy on the act of reading itself, they have more ability to think deeply about the plot and explore more complex aspects of the story.
  • You can read one chapter each evening, creating anticipation for the next chapter.
  • Take time to discuss the story and ask questions such as: "What do you think will happen?" "Why do you think they did that?" or "Would you have done anything differently?"
  • Let your child choose books with some guidance from you. You can go to the library together and help them feel that they are part of the decision-making process.
  • Talk about the book at other times during the day—discuss favorite characters, compare experiences from the story to real-life experiences, and more.
  • Respect your child's choices. If they do not enjoy a particular book, there is no need to finish it.

Go with the flow when your child is not interested

Sometimes children simply do not want to read a story, and that is okay. It may be because they are tired, hungry, or simply not in the mood. Remember that this does not mean you did anything wrong or that you chose the wrong book.

It is still worth encouraging reading a few times, but if your child continues to resist, let it go, do not force it, and try again the next day.

Questions parents ask

Repetition – Children enjoy hearing the same books read again and again. Repeated reading helps them discover new details, strengthens their understanding of the story, and gives them a sense of ownership and security. It is perfectly fine to reread your child's favorite stories, as this helps them stay actively involved in reading and continue developing their understanding. Gradually, and alongside familiar favorites, you can introduce new books that connect to topics your child already enjoys. This can help them move from the familiar to the new in a comfortable way and at their own pace.

Choosing age-appropriate stories – It is important to choose books that match your daughter's language and emotional development. The language, amount of text, or length of the story may not be appropriate for her age, which can make it harder for her to understand and cause her to lose interest. Try simplifying the text, explaining complex words and ideas, and shortening the story when needed. You may also want to choose books that are more suitable for her age. The more she understands, the easier it will be for her to stay engaged and enjoy the reading experience.

Shared reading – Involving children in the reading process is meaningful. When your child is actively participating, they show interest and curiosity and are able to stay engaged for longer. Encourage your child to ask questions, explore, and take the lead. There is no need to stick strictly to the text—the enjoyment of reading encourages understanding and shared conversation.

Illustrations support the story – Illustrations support and expand the story. Many times, children do not pay attention to the letters and sentences at all and focus mainly on the pictures. It is okay not to stick strictly to the text. Follow your daughter's lead and allow her to have conversations around the illustrations. You may be surprised by how many new things you can discover through the pictures.

An integral part of the daily routine

So how can you easily make books and stories part of your daily routine? Here are a few recommendations:

  • Make reading part of the daily routine
  • Combine reading aloud with other activities
  • Read books during bath time
  • Keep books in visible places around the house
  • Bring a book when leaving the house
  • It is recommended to include reading as part of the bedtime routine. However, if this time is not convenient for you or your child is too tired, choose another regular time during the day, such as in the afternoon after returning from preschool.
  • If you have both a baby and an older child, you can read a book to your older child while feeding the baby or putting the baby to sleep nearby. This way, all your children receive quality time and are exposed to the rhythm, tone of voice, and story.
  • You can buy waterproof books and read them during bath time.
  • It is recommended to keep books in visible places around the house, such as the changing table, an easily accessible area in the living room, a toy basket, and other places.
  • Remember to bring a book when leaving the house, for example, to the park, a doctor's office, or on a long trip. You can keep a book in the stroller, diaper bag, or car. This allows you to turn moments of boredom or waiting into activities that support your child's development.

Additional book-related activities

With toddlers and children, the story does not have to end when the book is closed. Here are some fun ways to continue engaging with the story throughout the day and keep it "alive" in your child's mind:

  • Let your child hold the book and look through it at other times of the day, beyond reading time.
  • Encourage your child to draw pictures of characters from the story.
  • Try repeating a memorable sentence, voice, or sound from the book at other times during the day.
  • Act out events from the story.
  • Visit a place connected to the story (for example, if you read a story about the sea, consider visiting the beach).