Reading together does amazing things for children and for their parents.

In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recently developed a policy statement that advises parents of young children that, “reading aloud and talking about pictures and words in age-appropriate books can strengthen language skills, literacy development and parent/child relationships.”

Just think about what is accomplished in this reading together experience.

The most important thing it does is it builds the relationship. When you snuggle together to read a book it is a special time. It builds a time of sharing that is special. It is an experience that children enjoy as babies, toddlers and all the way into adolescence.

When you read together you have a chance to share a new experience. Reading is a way to get comfortable with real life experiences before you encounter them. If a child is worried about going to the doctor, reading about it can help make the experience seem less scary. It is also a way for a child to experience diversity beyond their own community. Reading a book about a child of a different race or background helps the child develop empathy and understanding.

Another important plus about reading together is the ability to improve the child’s vocabulary and communication skills. When you read the word he doesn’t know, it is a chance to talk about words and learn new ones. He not only learns the word but he learns to pronounce it correctly.

An area of learning which is easily ignored yet critical for children is helping your child learn to sit still. When the child is focused and engrossed in a story, he is concentrating on what he is doing and this is helping him learn to concentrate. The reading together rewards him for his efforts to pay attention and remember the story. This is an area that many young children may need some additional help.

The end result of reading together is a love of books. This opens up a whole new world to young children. It begins early in life but even if your child is late to begin reading with you, start today and you will see results down the way.

If you are a grandparent or a neighbor of a young child, include reading as a part of your time together. Relationships between you and “your child” will become closer and the bonds will increase with each story.

One of the things we do each week at First Teacher is to have parents come with their children to our sessions when a reader from the community reads a story for the children. Then there is a craft of some kind for the children. But a special treat is available at the end of each session; then, each child receives a free book. It is special for the children to take home their own new book. We hope it is follow up with many sessions of the parent reading with the child.

One little 4-year-old girl said she didn’t need new books for Christmas. She needed a book shelf for the books she had been accumulating. You can tell we have a reader for today and one for the future.

Cynthia Martin is the founder of the First Teacher program and director of Parenting Matters Foundation, which publishes newsletters for parents, caregivers and grandparents. Reach Martin at pmf@olypen.com or at 681-2250.