Did you know your brain needs exercise, too? While it can’t run a mile or lift weights, you brain needs to exercise, and a great way to do just that is by reading.
Just as physical exercise provides numerous health and wellness benefits for your body, reading provides amazing benefits for your mind. Even though reading may be the last thing on your to-do list, it may be time to turn off the television or Internet and pick up a book.
Don’t make fun of bookworms. They’re the smart ones.
Builds Literacy Skills
Learning to read isn’t just for kids. The more you read, the better your reading skills, vocabulary understanding, and knowledge of language.
Yes, literacy skills start early. Hence why it’s important to read to your child from day one. Reading aloud provides the foundation for language development, phonics, and learning to read.
Once a child knows how to read, it’s recommended he read at least 20 minutes a day. Think about the time your child spends watching television. Skip just one cartoon and tell your child to read instead. Reading at a young age prepares your child for school and sets the stage for a lifetime of reading and learning.
Makes Brain Connections
The process of learning through reading involves multiple parts of the brain. When you read, areas of the brain must communicate. The more communication, the more complex the connections and the more brainpower you have at your disposal.
This is one reason why the more you read, the better reader you’ll become. You may a slow reader, but keep at it. You’ll get faster each day. Practice makes perfect.
Having problems remembering important life events? The brain connections that are built while reading are what form memories. Reading keeps your brain active and therefore helps keep your memory sharp for years.
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. – Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Improves Verbal Abilities
Feel like you stutter and can’t find the words you want to say? Reading teaches you new ways to communicate and express yourself. You’ll increase your vocabulary and become faster at thinking of what to say and when to say it.
Makes You Smarter
What if you turned off the TV and read one book a week? Think of all the information you could learn. Through reading, your brain becomes a storehouse of knowledge. Want to become an expert on birds? Wish you knew how to cook? Need to fix your car? The topics are endless. Your local library is a valuable resource for books and information. Develop this passion for learning in your kids.
Provides a Healthy Escape
You’re surrounded by piles of laundry or a winter storm outside. Want to get away for a while and escape the stress of life? Read a book and you’re in another world. Reading is a healthy way to manage stress. Studies have shown that quiet reading for just six minutes will ease muscle tension and reduce your heart rate.
Engages the Imagination
Movies and shows leave little room for the imagination. But when reading, your mind must be actively engaged. You’re required to imagine the scene, picture what things look like, and hear the tone of voice in your head. Develop your imagination with reading.
Offers Entertainment
What a cheap and easy way to be entertained! Check out books from the library and you have hours of free entertainment at your fingertips. Reading shouldn’t be viewed as a chore, but an enjoyable way to spend your time. You’ll not only be entertained, but you’ll get smarter at the same time.
If you don’t consider yourself a reader, maybe you haven’t read the right book. Ask friends what book they would recommend. Try different genres until you find what you enjoy most. The options are endless.
