It is noticed that children’s interest in books is decreasing. This is influenced by the ever-increasing pace of life, parental busyness, stress, and technology. We tend to choose activities that require as little internal resources as possible due to the lack of time and energy, sometimes applying this to the engagement of children. Therefore, technology is increasingly becoming an easier and more convenient choice for family leisure. It is important to mention that parents choose a more convenient way not necessarily because of indifference, but possibly because of a lack of information. It is likely that various initiatives emphasizing the benefits of early (and not only early!) reading and books in general would help parents understand the important role it plays in the development of a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social skills and in strengthening interpersonal communication.
It is never too early or too late to start reading to your child. It may seem that books are the least a baby of this age could need. After all, a baby needs quality time with their parents, and books can be incorporated into this relationship. Books and reading them have a beneficial effect on the development of children of all ages. Books provide an opportunity to the youngest to explore and learn about the world, promote language development, and strengthen the relationship between children and parents. The benefits of books also change as the child grows: reading helps the child improve concentration, expands the passive (understanding of language) and active (speaking) vocabulary, improves memory, helps develop the skills of recognizing and expressing emotions, strengthens the skills of imagination, creativity, and even independence. In addition, research has shown that children who read more often have better academic achievements. The earlier children are introduced to books, the more naturally the reading is accepted in the life of an older child, teenager, or even adult.