Who doesn’t love to share a good book with friends, even as an adult? Children love stories, and for many of them, story time is a favorite part of their day at The Learning Tree. When we read to the children, we’re not just enjoying a book together in the classroom--there is actually something incredible happening. Inside your child’s brain, critical connections are being made, getting them ready to learn…even as they sit quietly on the rug. Early Childhood researcher Vivian Paley, who studied the benefits of shared reading at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, found that children gain critical oral language and learn about the parts of a story, such as character, plot, and themes. Research also shows that children gain additional expressive vocabulary and listening skills during shared story time that will serve them throughout their lives. These skills allow kids to better express their emotions and social interactions as they mature, which in turn can help them better manage their emotional well-being. We love sharing great books at The Learning Tree, and we encourage our families to continue that love of literature at home, too. Try spending 15-20 minutes reading together at the end of the day as a great way to reconnect. The benefits for your child are immense—and we have a feeling you’ll appreciate that time as well. The Learning Tree teachers are here as a resource for your family, too. Need a great book suggestion? Ask! There are also some fun word games that you can play to help your child continue building their vocabulary and getting ready to learn. Check out these ideas, and share with us the fun you have along the way. Happy Reading! Want to know more about how we foster early childhood literacy at The Learning Tree? Learn more about how we use Zoophonics. H/T to The Conversation for some of the info in this post.