It’s one of life’s simplest joys — cuddling up with your little one and sharing a story. But did you know that reading to your child, even when they’re just a baby, plays a vital role in their early brain development, language skills, and emotional connection?

Let’s explore why those bedtime stories, silly rhymes, and family tales matter more than you might realise.

Why Start Reading to Your Baby?

You might wonder what a baby could possibly gain from hearing stories before they can even talk. But long before a child can speak, they’re soaking in language, sounds, and emotions from the world around them. The first five years of a child’s life are a critical window for brain development, and exposure to words and books during this time helps lay the foundation for literacy, listening skills, and cognitive growth.

Even from birth, babies benefit from:

Hearing a wide range of vocabulary
Seeing and feeling books — developing fine motor skills and learning how books work
Building emotional bonds through shared time and attention

The Word Gap: What the Numbers Say

The importance of reading is backed by research. A well-known study from Ohio State University found that children who are read to regularly hear an estimated 1.4 million more words by the time they start school compared to children who aren’t read to at home.

To put it into perspective:

A child read one book a day hears about 78,000 words a year.
A child read a bedtime story three nights a week from birth to age 5 will have heard around 840,000 words by school age.
In contrast, a child who isn’t read to regularly misses out on hundreds of thousands — even millions — of words, contributing to what educators call the word gap.

And it’s not just about quantity. It’s also the richness of language in stories — unusual words, rhymes, expressive phrases — that everyday conversation often lacks.

The Magic of Storytelling and Rhymes

It isn’t only about books. Telling family stories, singing nursery rhymes, and making up silly songs matter just as much. Oral storytelling from parents, grandparents, and carers introduces children to cultural traditions, family history, and new vocabulary.

Rhyming words help children hear the smaller sounds in words, an essential skill for early reading. Actions like clapping to a rhythm, pointing to pictures, or making animal noises bring stories to life and encourage interaction.

Simple ways to boost your baby’s language development:

Use expressive voices for different characters
Act out simple words (e.g., wave your hand for “bye-bye”)
Play word games and sing nursery rhymes
Let your child handle and turn the pages of books

A Lasting Impact

Regular reading isn’t just about literacy. It also helps with:

Listening skills
Memory and attention span
Emotional security and attachment
Creative thinking and imagination

Children who are read to from an early age are more likely to develop a love of reading, perform better academically, and have stronger communication skills as they grow.

In Summary

It’s never too early to start reading to your child. Even if they don’t understand the words yet, the sounds, rhythm, and shared closeness create powerful benefits for their development. Whether it’s a well-loved bedtime story, a nursery rhyme, or a family tale passed down the generations, every word counts.

So tonight, grab a book, snuggle up, and start building your child’s future — one story at a time.

The Power of Reading to Babies: Why it Matters from Day One