4Th March 2013
The article in the Age on 3 March 2013, Proof of Benefitis of Reading to Children, speaks of ''an exciting step forward'' in understanding the importance of reading with young children.
The article references the 2012 research report, Reading to young children: a head-start in life, authored by: G. Kalb and J.C van Ours. The Department of Education and Early Childhood and the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research to explore the connections between parents reading to their young children and their child’s later reading and other cognitive skills. The study found that reading to children at a young age has a direct effect on their schooling outcomes regardless of their family background and home environment. Reading to young children children every day has significant positive effect on their reading skills and cognitive skills (language, literacy and numeracy) later in life.
Read the research report summary paper: Reading to Young Children: A Head Start in Life