Supporting Early Brain Development with Reading
The State and Power of Literacy
Your child’s brain is growing faster in the first few years of life than it ever will again, and reading is one of the most powerful tools you have to shape that growth. In an ever-increasing screen-filled world, it’s far too easy to become disconnected and detached from physical reading.
Over the last 20 years, Americans’ reading for pleasure has declined by nearly 40%, which is alarming in itself, but when paired with adult literacy rates, it becomes even more concerning. Research indicates that prolonged reading fosters the development of new neural pathways and networks, thereby enhancing communication between the two brain hemispheres. These networks, in turn, help you process and learn information faster and more efficiently.Reading, put simply, is brain enrichment.
Strengthened memory, visual and auditory comprehension, and reduced stress are all real benefits you can enjoy well into adulthood. For children, this brain-building power is amplified.
What does this mean for reading with my child?
Our Readwell program supports the unique relationship between parents and medical providers to develop critical early reading skills in very young children from birth through age 6. Research shows not only improved educational outcomes from pediatric literacy interventions but also improved health outcomes. Over 70% of BookSpring families report reading with their child daily after 6 months—double the Texas state average of 25%.
The research is clear, children who are read to regularly:
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Have larger vocabularies and better language comprehension
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Develop stronger cognitive skills earlier in life
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Show improved educational and even health outcomes
These gains begin early. By the age of 2, children who are read to daily already have a measurable advantage in language development over their peers. Considering that 80% of a child’s brain development happens in the first three years of life, early reading isn’t just beneficial, it’s critical. Even reading just 20 minutes a day, you are exposing your child to millions of words, enriching their growing minds day by day. In fact, higher reading exposure was 95% positively correlated with a “hub” region supporting semantic language processing in the brain, controlling for household income.
Reading doesn’t have to look the same every time
Reading can feel hard even for us as a leisurely pastime. When it comes to reading to your child, the mission is straightforward: focus on words, words, words. That doesn’t always mean sitting down with a stack of picture books (though we love those here!). Reading can look like:
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Pointing out words on cereal boxes at breakfast: identify familiar words on food labels, shampoo bottles, anything with words!
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Sounding out letters on license plates in the parking lot: extend this to menus, billboards, posters!
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Reading signs together at the grocery store: point out how words match with corresponding aisles, produce, and products.
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Playing “I Spy” with letters or words: find all the letter “M’s” while walking through the store or point out every word that starts with “B.”
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Following a recipe together: letting your child “read” the steps with you while you cook.
Reading successfully at home starts with building the habit sustainably. Perhaps this means reading after snack time every day or right before bed. The consistency is what counts. Looking for a place to start? We have a free digital library of over 400 books, easy to use, and a perfect companion for wherever you may find yourself reading.