We've been taught for ages now the importance of reading to our children. From the earliest age, and even in the womb (your child can hear as soon as her ears form, even if she can't see the pictures from in the womb), parents are being instructed to read to their little ones.
Why? Well, it's supposed to make 'em smarter. Now, apparently, it makes them more tolerable nicer too. Just when you thought you couldn't possibly read Goodnight Moon ONE MORE TIME comes reason to celebrate doing so. Researchers reported to The Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology that kids whose parents gave them plenty of intellectual stimulation--that's reading to them, talking to them, etc.--during their first year of life were less likely to have behavior issues such as bullying and disobeying their parents. The study was conducted on 1,863 U.S. children and their mothers (but not their fathers, oddly enough).
Naturally, that theory only goes so far. The temperament of the child during her infant stage also plays a large part in determining how she'll be later. The actual article, however, deflects back onto the parenting skills and makes a case for giving parents the skills they need to do the job right.
1. There may be a correlation, but I'd argue against cause and effect. I try to read to my infant, but he just hates sitting there. He fights it all the way - squirming, yanking at the book, whining, and so on. Maybe the wild children don't get read to because it's near impossible, and the calm, mild-mannered children get read to because their parents can.
Posted at 11:57AM on Jul 9th 2008 by Gabby