As Father’s Day nears, we want to celebrate Dads who read to their kids! 

Books are a remarkable way to introduce children to the world around them and the people reading those books make all the difference.

A study at Harvard University showed the effect on infants’ language after a year of hearing stories read by their parents and how those stories read by the father had a significant impact especially if dads start reading to kids under the age of two.

Parenting expert Justin Coulson notes “Research has consistently shown that parents reading to children improves the quality of relationships, academic outcomes and resilience.  When we read to our children we expand their vocabulary.  We help them to feel safe and this can have a profound impact on their capacity for learning.”

So what is the “dad reading” difference?

Harvard’s study found reading is seen as a female activity and kids seem to be more tuned in when their dad reads to them.  Secondly, mom and dad approach the task differently.  Studies show that Mom tends to ask teacher-like, factual questions and Dad’s favor more abstract questions which sparked imaginative discussions.

Dads, it doesn’t matter if you are a confident reader or if you do silly voices for the book’s characters.  The key is to read and help your little ones understand what you’re reading.  You are helping them see the book through your perspective and that has tremendous value to your child.

Our author David Wise calls the stories he creates and shares with his children, “Daddy Stories”.  These stories are his children’s favorite stories!  Similarly, children can choose specific books to be Daddy Books that are special for Daddy to read.

So as Father’s Day nears, we celebrate Dads Who Read! Dads, when you read a story to your children, you are not just reading a story.  This is not something you HAVE to do. You are choosing to hold your child’s hand, open a door to show them a new aspect of the world and share with them a part of yourself.  From the experience shared from Dads Who Read, this is an opportunity that no dad should miss.

For more about reading aloud to children, visit our website for the free PDF download, “Thirty DO’s To Remember When Reading Aloud” by Jim Trelease, author of New York Times Bestseller The Read-Aloud Handbook.

Photograph by - Olga Myronets