Read to Your Child Day is celebrated every year on February 14. Reading bedtime stories is a sacred tradition shared between a parent and a child. Kids are like sponges — they absorb everything from their environment. Their values are guided by their experiences, and their feelings become a part of their personality. This is why helping them navigate their emotions through stories of morality and honesty is such an important part of a child’s upbringing. With stories, children can also hone their imagination, creativity, and intellect. Books make us empathetic and open windows into new worlds. Read to Your Child Day also highlights the need for public libraries and bookstores catering to young readers. Celebrate the day with your tiny tots!
History of Read to Your Child Day
We don’t know how or when Read to Your Child Day came to be, but we do understand why there’s so much emphasis on its celebrations. Reading to a child is one of the surest ways to develop their literacy and make them more receptive to instructions. Studies have found that reading a child one short book per day will familiarize them with 290,000 more words before they even walk into their kindergarten class than those who don’t have a regular reading session. And if you read to your child five short books a day, their vocabulary will surge to 1.4 million words!
Jessica Logan, one of the researchers in the study, says kids with a more expansive vocabulary are also more likely to pick up reading skills at a younger age. Growing up with books also improves reading comprehension, math skills, and communication abilities. Further studies suggest that reading can extend your lifespan, alleviate stress, and make you more creative and empathetic.
Some of the most memorable moments of our childhood are the stories we listened to — at the backseat of the car on our way back from school, on long trips with our parents, and in the seclusion of our bedrooms. If you loved reading books and sharing tales of princesses and triumph with your parents, then this day is for you.
Reading to your child boosts your personal bond, and it improves their brain development. See? There is no downside to reading to your kids. Instead, the quiet moments of solitude, when your voice is the only sound filling the room, can be a therapeutic experience for you and the parent, as well.
Read to Your Child Day timeline
English Poet John Lydgate publishes the first-ever children's book on mannerisms and behavior for royal kids of the courthouse.
John Amos Comenius, a.k.a. the Father of Modern Education, publishes "The Visible World in Pictures," the first picture book for children.
Lewis Caroll’s fantasy "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" marks the First Golden Age of children's literature in Europe.
Frank Baum publishes “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and commences the beginning of fairy tales and magic in children’s literature.
Enid Blyton publishes the first of her “Famous Five” books.
Roald Dahl publishes the children’s classic story.
J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book is published.
Rick Riordan publishes the first book in his series.
Read to Your Child Day FAQs
What are the best books to read to my kids?
The best books to read to your kids are “Charlotte’s Web,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Matilda,” “The Harry Potter Series,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” and “Winnie the Pooh.”
How can I get my child to enjoy our reading sessions?
Pick interesting stories with large caricatures and describable personalities. Start with small stories and anecdotes before moving to sagas and multi-book franchises. You can also promise rewards after each successful session to pique their interest.
What is the right age for a child to start reading?
Children can start recognizing a combination of letters from the age of three, but the actual comprehension skills kick in at ages five to seven.
What is the best way to teach a child to read?
You can use songs and nursery rhymes with simple words to build phonemic awareness. Make simple word cards at home and make it a print-rich environment. You can also play word games at home or in the car.
What are the four methods of teaching reading?
The phonics method, the whole-word approach, the language experience approach, and the context support method.
Read to Your Child Day Activities
Get a library membership
Celebrate Read to Your Child Day by getting a library membership for your child. Sign up at the local community library. This is also a wonderful way to meet other readers and discover new books.
Read to your child
There’s no better way to celebrate Read to Your Child Day than by spending the day reading to your child. Pick their favorite stories. You can also promise to read to them every day. Reading before bed is a good practice, and is a great way for you and your child to bond. Even if you do not have children, you can celebrate by volunteering to read to other kids.
Donate your old books
February is a beautiful month to share your blessings, and on Read to Your Child Day, you can share the gift of books with those less privileged than you. Books your kids have outgrown, books you no longer want to read again, and books you have copies of — donate them all to an orphanage or a nearby community center.
5 Benefits Of Reading To Your Children Daily
We can read many words easily
Reading 20 minutes a day is equal to reading 1,800,000 words a year.
It develops cognitive skills
Regular verbal interaction between a child and a parent improves their I.Q. and aids in developing cognitive skills.
It expands the vocabulary
A study concluded that kids who are read to regularly are exposed to 78,000 new words each year.
Reading is a stress buster
Reading for six minutes a day can alleviate stress levels by 68%.
It feeds creativity
Being the one-person audience of magical tales can do wonders for a child’s creativity.
Why We Love Read to Your Child Day
Reading sessions are precious
We don’t need an excuse to celebrate the valuable reading sessions we share with our kids. On Read to Your Child Day, we renew our promise of always sharing stories of bravery, compassion, and friendship with our children.
Internet takeover is scary
Internet-ladened mobiles and tablets have replaced the little time we shared with our kids. Do not let the tradition of sharing stories with your kids die. Make a rule to shut down the Internet an hour before bedtime, and read them stories before they go to sleep every day.
Reading never gets old
Read to Your Child Day can be celebrated at any age. The bonds formed with the act of reading together last for a lifetime. This February 14, demand a dramatic reading of your favorite childhood book and revisit some childhood memories.
Read to Your Child Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | February 14 | Friday |
| 2026 | February 14 | Saturday |
| 2027 | February 14 | Sunday |
| 2028 | February 14 | Monday |
| 2029 | February 14 | Wednesday |
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