Reading to kids helps brain development
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 9, 2007
Meghan E. Moravcik

Reading to young children is important for brain development, plus it's a way for parent and child to bond.

Many children are not read to enough, according to Reading Is Fundamental Inc., which works to motivate children up to age 8 and their parents to read.

Reading Is Fundamental cites U.S. Census Bureau research which shows that about 50 percent of children ages 1 to 5 were read to seven or more times in the previous week. For children in families below the poverty line, that number drops to 41 percent. Keri Mosier of Phoenix has been reading to her 3-year-old daughter since birth. Her daughter, Eleri, often sits on her bed for up to an hour, flipping pages of children's books and making up stories.

"My daughter is so obsessed with books," Mosier said.

Phoenix librarian Elaine Meyers said parents should strive to read 20 minutes a day.

It's not about pushing children to develop reading skills early, Meyers said. It's about building a foundation for success.