Reading is astoundingly powerful for all ages. Even for young children, it has a significant effect on language and cognitive development. Hearing words and sentence structure, read by a voice children love, forms brain connections so vital to language development. As kids grow, they learn new words and see grammar concepts come to life on the page. In later elementary and middle school, reading bridges abstract, difficult-to-understand concepts and helps children understand them in a concrete way. For instance, coupling solid fiction with a historical concept helps children see history in a dynamic way.
Books have a significant impact on children’s social, emotional, and character development. Stories get into one’s mind and leave an impression. For this reason, it's important to make wise decisions when choosing reading materials for children. Stories should be high-quality with positive messages and, most importantly, point children to the goodness of God. Even if a story is not explicitly a Christian story, the underlying principles and lessons can be.
So, how do you find books that engage your child, ignite a love for learning, fit in line with your beliefs and also build character and learning? Without sugarcoating, it can be difficult. There is a lot of bad content out there, but a huge amount of great content, too! Follow these steps to wisely choose great books for your children or grandchildren.
