Khaberni - Listening to tales is no longer a mere luxury for children; it has become an essential step in strengthening the language of the young and their reading skills.
A new study has shown that listening to and discussing stories establishes a foundation for language development and reading skills, and has social and emotional benefits, according to the Times of Malta.
The report states that story reading time at home, nursery, or school is the period when young children experience the magic of books.
It was also noted that reading stories to young children is considered an enjoyable activity in itself, as it also establishes a foundation for language development and reading skills, and has social and emotional benefits.
Decades of research have confirmed that there is a clear difference in language skills between children who spent time with stories at home and those who did not.
It mentioned that dialogic reading affects children’s vocabulary, in addition to their outcomes in reading and writing.
Furthermore, the research indicated that 36 children with delayed vocabulary were divided into groups participating in shared reading or dialogic shared reading.
While both groups showed improvement, the dialogic reading group achieved much greater gains in vocabulary.
In her role, Fufi Demisi, a senior lecturer in Early Childhood Education at Sheffield Hallam University, stated that in 2024, the Rhetoric Commission, an independent body seeking to integrate rhetoric in the curriculum, published a report highlighting the significance of rhetoric.
The report pointed out that rhetoric prepares children and young students for their future life requirements, where it is necessary for performing a presentation, discussing an idea, and confidently participating in university seminars and business meetings.
The report also noted that access to high-quality rhetoric education is not available to everyone.
Dr. Demisi concluded stating that the linguistic, social, and emotional benefits of story time mean that it should be considered a fundamental part of the early childhood curriculum, not just a luxury or an addition.
A valuable tool
It is noted that language and communication are a key area in basic education for early childhood and children's development from birth to the age of five.
Practicing dialogic reading is also considered a valuable tool for developing rhetoric skills in young children, i.e., the ability to express ideas when speaking and listening carefully and communicating effectively.
