Children learn a range of subjects in school: mathematics, social studies, science, and English. All these subjects focus on unique concepts, but a student cannot understand them without basic literacy. That's why instructors and parents need to nurture a positive reading culture among children. 

According to a 2016 study, children who had the habit of reading self-selected literature for pleasure scored highly in school subjects. Children are back in schools, and encouraging them to read can help them perform better academically in the following ways:

Enhanced Concentration

Pushing the child to read more enables them to develop higher levels of concentration. Typically, more profound attention and engagement are highly hinged on a child's reading routine and not on their socioeconomic status, age, gender, or family structure. A student also develops a knack for organizing and sorting out their thoughts, including topics and concepts they may not be familiar with. The ability to focus on one subject results in more concentration even after they've finished reading a book.

New Vocabulary

Reading exposes children to new words, and that helps them improve their vocabulary and language. From kindergarten to 12th grade, a student who reads for 30 minutes a day encounters an average of 13.7 million words. After graduation, their counterparts who spent an average of 15 minutes only get exposed to 1.5 million words. That said, more reading exposes your child to new vocabulary that strengthens their language and grammar skills.

Increased Ability to Understand the World (and Others)

Reading different storybooks introduces the child to new ideas and characters. The qualities of these new encounters are sometimes things the child encounters in daily life. The books they read help them understand the environment, current issues, and how people behave. For instance, the pandemic and the ensuing racial issues affected how (and what we read). People became more interested in books about pandemics and American racist history. Children can also read fiction books on these topics to better understand subjects like social studies and history. 

We think that so much needs to be done for racial equality to ever truly be achieved, and education on the issues is one piece that'll help move the ball forward. 

Improved Memory

Even when reading simple children's books, students must commit various characters, settings, and other figures of speech to mind. Reading strengthens a child's memory because some will find themselves telling stories of what they read about to their friends. It's the same thing with academics. What they read sticks to their minds for an extended time, and they'll be able to voluntarily retrieve it when answering exam questions. 

Critical Thinking

Some books that children read have a relatively more profound mystery, requiring them to think critically and analyze events to unlock the enigma. "The Hardy Boys" is an excellent example of a mystery genre that improves a reader's critical thinking skills. They can leverage the same skill to understand word problems and relatively complex questions in class. In return, they provide relevant answers. 

Motivating your child to read more helps them improve outcomes in school and in the real world. Parents and schools must instil the spirit of reading among children by providing them with the resources and encouragement they need.