3. Read aloud to them every day. The benefits of reading aloud to your children are numerous, but perhaps the biggest benefit is slowing down and savoring time together. Everyone from babies to teens and adult children benefit from being read to. Most people are aware that reading to young children improves literacy skills, listening skills, and a host of other goodies, but parents tend to stop reading aloud when children become skilled at reading, but did you know that a child’s listening level is above their reading level until about the eighth grade? That means they hear better than they read, and they can enjoy more complicated books with interesting plots that will keep them coming back for more. Read them books a couple of grades above their grade level. Reading aloud also improves their vocabulary skills, teaches life lessons, and it looks like certain books even improve tolerance.
