How bedtime stories can make your child smarter!

Little did I realise when I started reading James Patterson novels to my pregnant belly that reading and storytelling is quite a fad among gen-y parents. And now that I am learning about the benefits of story-telling and reading for infants and toddlers, I am glad I started early. So what is all this hullaballoo? Why should a parent invest their time in these activities and how will the child benefit? Here are all these questions answered. When and why should I start reading to my child? Studies suggest that babies can pick up words and speech in-utero and that is why babies respond to speech in the native language/s of their parents [1]. This is why reading to your in-utero baby is a healthy activity as it will help her recognise words, tones and accent. Know more about how reading can enhance your baby's language skills. Falak Randerian, Director of My Little Chatterbox and Director and Head Trainer at MLCB Phonics, strongly believes that it's never too early to start reading to your baby, rather start right during your pregnancy. It has a number of benefits like:

• Early reading is crucial for a child from the time she is born as it helps in developing cognitive skills.
• Worldwide, reading aloud to younger children is considered important for language development. It also helps in developing a child's curiosity and memory.
• Reading aloud also helps you bond with your little ones beautifully.

Here are a few tips to get your child interested in books: Start early: It's easier to read to a newborn as they hardly move. However, once the baby starts becoming increasingly mobile, getting them to be attentive is a task. Make the reading session fun, read in an animated voice, make sounds and expressions. Here are some more tips on how you can help your child learn to read. Keep it exciting: Over time you will see a pattern in the kinds of books your baby shows interest in. I started the textbook way by introducing her to the touch-and-feel books, which were never a hit with her. She is more interested in books with colourful illustrations. Let your baby choose her books. Also, keep a stack of 7-8 books, so you have a new book to read every night of the week. Do not force the child: My child is no saint. There are times when she would only want to jump and roll all around. So I start reading loudly by myself. Eventually, she will come by my side and pay attention. Do not force your baby into it, set an example yourself. Make it a time when you both bond and spend a happy quality time. Here are some more tips on how you can bond with your baby. Encourage the baby to ‘read’ on their own: Babies learn by copying actions and words they say. Once in a reading routine, they will try to point to the pictures and babble the words. Clap and say encouraging words. Marvel at the fact that they are catching up. Pick your books carefully: There are way too many babies and children books out there. While you should follow your baby's cues in picking books for her, the onus is on you to keep the mix lively and rich. While books like 'The very hungry caterpillar' and 'Uh-oh Calico' are popular choices, also include books like 'Tickle tickle under there' to introduce them to ideas like different cultures. So get, set, read! Take your child to the times of ‘dadimaa ki kahaniyan’ Given the perenial time-crunch we all face, many parent, willingly or not, turn to the TV to babysit the kids. If you are that parent, stop this habit now. Experts and paediatricians advice not exposing the children to any type of electronic screens – phones, tablets, laptops, etc. till the minimum age of 2 years old. Studies have linked adverse effects on physical and mental well-being of babies, toddlers, kids and preteens, with the media and screen exposure [2] [3]. There are many other reasons why television is bad news for your baby. So how do you engage your kids in a way that even nurtures their mind? Storytelling, that's what you need. Renowned theatre artist, Kamal Pruthi says, "A storytelling movement is necessary to fight the advent of technology, which has been dumbing children down." Clad in a green kurta-pajama with a pagdi (turban), this 33-year old 'Kabuliwala' is a favourite with children across the country every time they see him with his vibrant jhola (cloth bag), which they know is full of stories. "With mobile phones and other devices taking over, dadajis and nanajis (grandparents) don't get to tell stories to their grandchildren any more. A family getting together over stories seems like in a long-gone era," Pruthi says. So how do you know a good story-teller from another? Shilpa Vyas helps us with her tips. She is a mompreneur who started conducting storytelling sessions as a hobby for her son and his friends, but soon transitioned into conducting the sessions in a more sophisticated and professional manner. Here are her pointers to tick off while zeroing on a good story telling session:

• It should be conducted in a big open space, with ample room for the kids to move about.
• The storyteller should use appropriate props.
• There should be a connection to the current times, not just a story from the bygone era. A story with morals is a plus too.
• The session should be interactive, not just a monologue.
• It should be FUN!

So parents and parents, chuck the remote and wasting money in playboys. Pick up a book and let your child explore the magic of the written worka With inputs form IANS Image source: Shutterstock

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1. May, L., Byers-Heinlein, K., Gervain, J., & Werker, J. F. (2011). Language and the Newborn Brain: Does Prenatal Language Experience Shape the Neonate Neural Response to Speech? Frontiers in Psychology, 2, 222. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00222
2. Duch, H., Fisher, E. M., Ensari, I., & Harrington, A. (2013). Screen time use in children under 3 years old: a systematic review of correlates. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10, 102. doi:10.1186/1479-5868-10-102
3. Rosen, L. D., Lim, A. F., Felt, J., Carrier, L. M., Cheever, N. A., Lara-Ruiz, J. M., … Rokkum, J. (2014). Media and technology use predicts ill-being among children, preteens and teenagers independent of the negative health impacts of exercise and eating habits. Computers in Human Behavior, 35, 364–375. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.01.03