THE MAGIC OF READING

WHY READING MATTERS

A love of books is one of the most valuable gifts we can give children.

From birth to age ten, reading books plays a crucial role in cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Reading nurtures empathy and social skills, as well as creating a solid foundation for academic accomplishments. Through stories, children experience different cultures, emotions, and challenges, helping them understand others’ perspectives in a way that no other medium can.

Books can also be a source of comfort, helping children navigate big feelings and life changes such as starting school, getting a new sibling, managing grief, understanding the world around them and dealing with everything that growing up brings.

Encouraging and supporting reading from infancy to age ten lays the foundation for lifelong learning and curiosity. Whether through bedtime stories, library visits, or reading aloud together, fostering a love of books is one of the best ways to support your child’s growth.

That’s why YOU

are the most important ingredient when it comes to your child

becoming a fully-fledged

Book Dragon.

"Books may well be the only true magic."

– Alice Hoffman, Magic Lessons

BENEFITS BY AGE

My Free ‘Little Dragon’s Library’ has tips, recommendations, links to the latest research and free printables to help you get started and raise your very own Little Book Dragon.

0-2

Supports Language Development: Listening to stories helps babies absorb sounds, tones, and rhythms of speech, building early language skills.

Bonding & Comfort: Reading together strengthens the parent-child connection through soothing voices, cuddles and focused time together.

Cognitive Growth: Picture books and interactive books help develop focus, memory, and sensory skills.

Emotional Security: Repetitive stories and rhymes provide predictability, which comforts and reassures babies.

4-6

Prepares for Independent Reading: Repetitive text, rhyming, and simple stories help children recognise words and sounds.

Enhances Concentration: Following a story from beginning to end strengthens attention span and comprehension.

Builds Confidence: Recognising words or reading simple sentences makes children feel capable and excited to learn more.

Develops Emotional Intelligence: Stories about friendships, challenges, and feelings help children navigate real-life situations.

8-10

Expands Knowledge & Perspective: Chapter books introduce diverse cultures, historical events, and new ideas.

Enhances Empathy: Characters with different experiences help children understand emotions and relationships more deeply.

Increases Academic Confidence: Exposure to various genres and storytelling styles improves writing skills and communication.

Encourages Lifelong Reading Habits: A strong independent reading foundation leads to a lifelong love of books and learning.

2-4

Expands Vocabulary: Exposure to new words enhances communication skills and early literacy development.

Encourages Imagination: Storybooks introduce new ideas, emotions, and worlds, sparking creativity.

Boosts Social Skills: Books about emotions and social situations help children understand sharing, empathy, and problem-solving.

Supports Early Learning: Simple counting, colours, shapes, and rhymes reinforce early leaning concepts in a fun and engaging way.

6-8

Strengthens Reading Fluency: Children develop decoding skills, improving speed, accuracy, and comprehension.

Encourages Critical Thinking: Books with simple plots introduce problem-solving, cause-and-effect, and moral lessons.

Boosts Academic Success: Reading helps with spelling, writing, comprehension, and overall school performance.

Supports Independence: This is the age children begin exploring what kind of stories they enjoy most, fostering a love of reading.

10+

Encourages Self-Discovery: Books offer guidance and inspiration for personal growth, career interests, and social issues.

Maintains Personal & Academic Growth: Non-fiction, fiction, and diverse genres introduce new ideas, cultures, and experiences.

Enhances Wellbeing: Reading has been shown to lower stress, improve mental health and even decrease feelings of loneliness.

Keeps The Mind Sharp: Whether for personal growth, career development, or entertainment, reading keeps the mind sharp and engaged.