Guest blog by Clarisse Blake

When a child starts reading for pleasure, we feel like we’ve succeeded as parents, teachers, and educators in general. However, that doesn’t always happen, especially at the beginning – children tend to feel like reading is a chore or an additional bit of homework they have to deal with. Instead of “forcing” kids to enjoy reading, we focus on reading as a developmental skill in the meantime. Chances are, reading for pleasure will be a byproduct of this focus. Beyond being an exciting hurdle for kids though, reading is also foundational to learning in a broader sense.

So with that in mind, here are a few reasons why reading is essential for young minds.

Kids can fall behind early in school

There are quite a few reasons why a child will fall behind at school. Sometimes, they can catch up on their own. In other cases, however, they’ll need a little extra help to get where they need to be. One of the first things parents and teachers think of when they notice a child falling behind is a “specific learning disorder (SLD)”. A diagnosis of an SLD may explain why a child is struggling with understanding spoken and/or written communication. The three main categories of SLDs include dyslexia (trouble with reading), dyscalculia (trouble with math), and dysgraphia (trouble with writing).

A child with dyslexia may have trouble reading, but that’s not a reason to avoid books. Quite the opposite, actually: more practice with reading with the help of strategies such as the use of graphic organizers helps students get used to reading. There are also myriad tools and assistive technology to help dyslexic readers catch up to their peers in school.

Kids may drop out of high school

Children and young adults who enjoy reading also have fewer issues in school, which means that they’re more likely to finish high school. Studies show that students who have trouble with reading and writing tend to drop out of high school and fail to receive their high school diploma. A love for reading is without a doubt part of the education a child receives, but it also makes their school years easier – and as a result, they’re more likely to get their high school diploma at the very least – which can set them up for success later on.

High school graduates may be underprepared

First and foremost, students who pursue liberal studies programs in college will typically need to be prepared for a lot of reading. While this is a broad field accounting for a wide range of specific focuses, liberal studies education is grounded in humanities and social sciences and can involve studies in writing, literature, history, and more –– all of which require a great deal of reading.

While those are the main areas that come to mind with respect to heavy reading loads, students pursuing fields more closely related to math and science will need to be equipped to read as well. Math at upper levels is as much about theory as it is about numbers and equations. With respect to science, students pursuing medical degrees are even advised that they may need to “cut back” on their personal reading because of how much they’ll need to absorb from medical textbooks.

Reading is a form of early development and improved attention as well as a foundation for learning throughout one’s educational timeline. If children don’t develop their reading skills while they’re young, there may be trouble later down the road – while not detrimental to their likelihood of success, it can still hinder them. As such, we as parents and educators should foster that love for reading as best we can.