Reading to kids can impact their early brain development. But just how much it affects their brains is surprising. Research has shown that learning reading at a young age impacts kids’ entire lives.

Scientists say that when reading, kids’ left side of the brain (responsible for language processing and creating mental imagery) receives ample stimulation. But when reading stories, the brain’s activity increases.

It’s not surprising that nearly 65% of human interactions are in the form of social storytelling (think gossip). Here are some ways reading impacts a child’s brain:

• Enhances Concentration

When kids’ read books or get read to (at home) they learn how to concentrate more, acquiring the discipline to sit and listen. It might not be easy at first, especially for kids who are very active by nature. But as this becomes a habit, they concentrate on longer, more complex stories.

Reading stories is perhaps the easiest way to help young children sit still and listen, and which parent wouldn’t want their kids sitting still for a moment? Reading for 30 minutes daily improves focus, memory, and attention span.

• Exercises the Brain

Want to exercise your child’s brain? Make them read or read to them. Reading is like a mental exercise for the brain, but it’s more than that. It also changes a child’s brain structure, especially when they begin processing words and deducing their meanings.

The ability to read well is a complex skill that kids’ can acquire. In fact, their future academic success is dependent upon their ability to read fluently and understand what they've read.

There are many successful reading programs elementary school teachers can use to promote reading fluency in early readers and enhance the classroom learning experience.

• Increases Children's IQ

Your child may not become Isaac Newton after acquiring fluent reading skills, but a study suggests that reading to them while asking questions and engaging them in the story can increase their IQ by nearly six points. In simple words, reading makes children smarter.

• Improves Muscle Memory

Reading the same story to a young child over and over again can be quite monotonous. But there's no better way to improve the muscle memory of a child. Young kids take time to remember new information. This is why repetition is important.

A study by the Center for Early Literacy Learning revealed that one way of enhancing reading skills in children is to read one or two books at a time and to read to them every day. Repetitive reading helps children learn new vocabulary and develop a stronger grasp of the language.

• Stimulates Mental Imagery

Exposure to reading at a young age activates specific brain areas that support semantic processing (helping a child extract the meaning from a language). These areas are critical to learning a language. 

Reading also stimulates the brain areas that support mental imagery, especially when kids advance from reading books with pictures to books without them. The brain literally imagines what’s going on in a story, allowing children to “see” the story as it progresses. Simply put, reading sparks the imagination.