Reading aloud to your child, why books matter for your non-reader child
Reading aloud to your child, at any age, is incredible beneficial. But I’m sure you already know that. If you have a struggling reader, still read aloud to them every.single.day. Even if they cannot read, or struggle with sounds, you reading to them will help their language development just by listening to you. Reading aloud will also help with early math skills, imagination, along with developing a love for reading.
The whole point of reading a variety of books about different topics is to help your child make a personal connection to a concept. Below I will share 4 developments that your child will form without even realizing. Then I will suggest some read alouds. These are going to be suggestions that I used with my own kids when they couldn’t read a full book by themselves.
Early Math
Yes, it’s true. Reading aloud to your child develops math skills! Choose books that have engaging artwork. Does your child gravitate toward neutral soft colors or bright ones? Does your child enjoy touching the book or reading with you? Then you might what books that have textures to them. Are there certain characters or animals that your child likes? Choose books based on things that your child likes. An example would be a counting book that has textures to the pages if your child likes to touch the book. Or a shape book with their favorite animal in it. These types of books will hold their attention and spark wonder & joy.
Counting
Look for books that have objects to count, along with the numeral #’s (1,2,3) and the number word (one, two, three) this way the child can develop number relationships. Counting, recognizing the number and reading the number.
Shapes
Having one book with several different types of shapes is great to have. You will mainly use this book as a jumping off point, just to introduce the shape or maybe a reference tool. But you’ll probably be spending most of the time talking about the shapes all around you, than reading about them in books. Having a wooden shape puzzle is a great tool to have. But learning shapes is a skill they will pick up naturally.
Measuring
Books that have objects that are longer & shorter, bigger & smaller, wide & narrow, light or heavy, will be great for this concept. But this in another skill that will naturally be learned through living life.
Adding and subtracting
Books that weave in a story and adding/subtracting is a fun way to introduce this concept. These types of books will take you longer to get through because will be stopping to help your child understand the concepts. Once your kiddo understands, these become favorites.
Language Development
Reading to your child daily helps build their entire language system, which makes learning to read much easier later on. Even before they can read a single word, your child is developing multiple layers of language skills at the same time—just by listening.
Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes:
Receptive Language (Understanding)
Children hear words, sentence structures, and ideas they aren’t yet able to read on their own. They begin to understand how language sounds when it’s used correctly and expressively, and they start making sense of more complex ideas like stories, sequencing, and cause-and-effect relationships.
Expressive Language (Speaking)
As children listen, they begin to use new vocabulary in their own speech. They imitate sentence patterns, storytelling styles, and descriptive language from books. You might even notice them using more formal or detailed “book language” in everyday conversation—this is a fun milestone to witness as a parent.
Vocabulary Development
Read-alouds expose children to rich vocabulary that doesn’t usually come up in everyday conversation. With repeated exposure, they begin to naturally understand and use these words.
And yes—this is why reading the same book over and over again is so valuable. Repetition helps lock in meaning and builds confidence..
Phonological Awareness
Picture books that focus on letters, sounds, and rhymes help build phonological awareness—an essential pre-reading skill.
Children start to hear similarities in words like “bat” and “hat,” recognize patterns in sounds, and develop an ear for rhythm and rhyme. They won’t be able to explain it yet, but their brain is building the foundation for reading.
Rhyming and musical books are especially powerful here—they help children pick up on patterns in language in a way that feels natural and fun.
Narrative Skills & Comprehension
By simply listening to stories, children begin to understand how stories work:
- Beginning, middle, and end
- Characters, problems, and solutions
- Predicting what might happen next
You can strengthen this even more by asking a few simple questions, but even without that, these skills are developing naturally through exposure
Listing & Attention Skills
Sitting and listening to a story helps children build focus and attention over time. They learn to follow longer and more complex ideas, which is an important skill for both reading and learning in general.. (To get some tips on how to keep kids engaged while you read aloud, I have a few for you)
A Helpful Tip for Parents
It can be tempting to pause and quiz your child while reading—but it’s often more effective (and much more enjoyable) to keep the experience natural and engaging.
Read with expression, point to words or letters occasionally, and let your child linger on pages that interest them.
If your child wants to spend extra time on one page—especially if it connects to something they love (like cars or fairies!)—that’s not a distraction, it’s a win. That kind of interest is exactly what builds strong learning connections
The Big Picture
All of this is happening simply because your child is being read to. You’re not just reading a story—you’re building the foundation for language, comprehension, and future reading success in a way that feels effortless and enjoyable for them.
Imagination
Picture books are one of the most powerful tools for developing a child’s imagination. Through stories, children are taken to faraway places—some real, some completely made up—and they begin to build worlds in their minds long before they can read on their own.
But imagination isn’t just about pretend play—it’s also how children begin to understand emotions, relationships, and the world around them.
You won’t find a workbook that truly builds empathy. Real emotional understanding grows when children connect with stories—when they watch characters face challenges, make choices, and work through feelings in a way that feels real to them.
The early years are a powerful window for this kind of growth. As children listen to stories, they begin to feel alongside the characters—sharing in their excitement, worry, or joy. These moments naturally create space for meaningful conversations about emotions, relationships, and even tough situations, all in a way that feels safe and approachable.
Here are some of the key imagination skills that are developing:
Mental Imagery
Children begin to “see” the story in their mind like a movie. They imagine characters, settings, and action based on the words they hear.
Picture books add another layer by allowing them to compare their own mental images with the illustrations on the page, strengthening their ability to visualize and think creatively.
Pretend Play
Stories give children new ideas for play—pirates, explorers, animals, families, and more. They borrow dialogue, roles, and storylines from the books you read together.
This is often where you’ll start to see your child acting out scenes or creating their own versions of stories. It’s a clear sign their imagination is growing.)
Perspective-taking (Imaginative Empathy)
As children listen to stories, they begin to imagine what characters are thinking and feeling. They mentally step into different roles and experiences.
This is how empathy begins to develop—not through instruction, but through connection to story.
World Building Imagination
Books introduce children to places, time periods, and situations they’ve never experienced. From fantasy worlds to everyday life in different cultures, children learn to imagine beyond what they see in front of them.
Narrative Imagination (Story Structure thinking)
Children start to understand how stories work—beginning, middle, end; problems and solutions; conflict and resolution.
Over time, their imagination becomes more organized. You’ll often see this show up in their pretend play as they begin creating more structured, story-driven scenarios.
Auditory Imagination
When you read with expression—using different voices, tone, and pacing—children begin to imagine how a story sounds and feels, not just what happens.
This adds depth to their imagination and helps them connect emotionally to stories.
The Big Picture
The best books for preschoolers are the ones filled with imagination. Children who grow up surrounded by rich storytelling often become the ones who invent their own stories, narrate their play, and create entire worlds from their ideas.
And the best part? You’re building all of this simply by reading together.
Love of reading
Reading aloud to your child is one of the most powerful ways to encourage a love of reading—but it’s important to remember that every child is different.
Some children fall in love with books early, some take more time, and some may never love reading in the same way others do. But one thing is consistent: reading aloud will never make a child dislike books. In fact, it builds a positive foundation that makes a love of reading much more likely over time.
What you’re really building isn’t just reading skills—it’s a relationship with books.
Here’s how that develops:
Story Engagement (They Get Hooked)
Through read-alouds, children experience suspense, humor, adventure, and curiosity. They begin to care about what happens next.
This is where interest starts. When a child is engaged in a story, they want to keep going.
That’s why choosing books your child enjoys is so important. When stories match their interests, books become something they look forward to—not something they avoid.
Identity Formation
Over time, children begin to see themselves as “a kid who likes books.” They ask for stories, have favorite books, and talk about characters as if they’re real.
This identity matters. When it’s time to learn how to read, they already value books and are more willing to work through the challenging parts—especially if it means getting to a story they enjoy.
Building Positive Associations
Reading becomes tied to connection, comfort, and routine. Whether it’s bedtime stories or quiet moments together, books become a positive and familiar part of their day.
This emotional connection is often what turns into a lasting love of reading.
What Can Get in the Way
While read-alouds are powerful, certain things can make children resist books:
- Reading that feels forced or pressured
- Books that don’t match their interests
- Little to no interaction or engagement during reading
- Screens replacing most storytime experiences
The Big Picture
A love of reading doesn’t always happen overnight—but it often starts with something simple: enjoying a good story together.
By making reading a positive, engaging experience, you’re giving your child the best chance to not only learn to read—but to want to read.
Wrapping it up
Books matter. Reading aloud to your child before they can read on their own lays the groundwork for everything that comes next.
With each story, your child is building language skills, expanding their imagination, and forming a relationship with books. They’re learning how language sounds, how stories work, how to picture ideas in their mind, and how to connect with characters and emotions.
At the same time, they’re developing the focus to listen, the curiosity to keep going, and the confidence to eventually take on reading themselves.
All of this is happening during simple, everyday moments—sitting together with a book.
Long before your child reads a single word independently, you’re already giving them the tools they need for reading success—and possibly a lifelong love of it.
