5 Surprising Benefits of Reading Out Loud… for Adults

By Naila N.

By now we have all heard of the endless benefits of reading out loud for babies and toddlers, but did you know that reading out loud is advantageous for adults as well?

Here are 5 surprising benefits, backed up by science and tried and tested by myself as a mother of a toddler and as a children’s book author:

1. It promotes bonding with your children.

Not only is this important in developing your child’s social and communication skills, but it also helps in strengthening the bond between you. With the quality time that is spent together, your relationship with your child is strengthened.  Whether it is a regular bedtime story or a random story time during the day, it becomes something favorable to look forward to for parents and children.

2. It has social benefits.

As adults we often tend to read silently, hence it is a rather solitary activity. There is nothing negative in that – we often do need this for our personal space or for relaxation. Yet reading out loud adds a new social element to this activity. It helps to connect with your children in real-time, promoting open discussions amongst yourselves.

3. It gives us new perspectives.

As you read out loud, not only do you comprehend the story from an adult’s point of view but also see it as your child does, through their ideas, comments and feedback. Fuel it with further questions in the end and you will end up with creative, often whacky, but always remarkable conversations.

4. It improves your eloquence.

As you get into the routine of reading out loud, it improves your fluency and articulation skills. Not only are these useful when communicating on a day-to-day basis with your friends and family, but it is also a beneficial skill when it comes to your career.

5. It sharpens your focus.

That’s right. When you read out loud, you are actively pairing your mind with your voice – and that takes a lot of focus from your end.  This often results in greater cohesiveness, which improves your mental skills.

So give it a try, read out lout for a couple minutes a day – and whether it is an excerpt from Anna Karenina or Goodnight Moon, you will soon begin to notice the benefits.

If you’re looking for the next book to read, Naila will be at Agenda Bookshop at The Point this Saturday, 1st of April between 4pm and 5:30pm! This is your opportunity to get a signed copy of her book: Giraffe’s New scarf and a free plushie. 

Naila N. is a children’s book writer living in the sunny island of Malta. Her debut picture book, Giraffe’s New Scarf, was published in 2016. The book can be purchased from all Agenda stores or online from Amazon. Naila has more children’s books coming up this year.

She is also a winner of the Springtime Short Story competition with UK’s Little Acorn Publishing and her children’s short story will be included in their latest book, Little Acorn Anthology Volume One, in Spring of 2017.She is either always drinking coffee or always thinking about drinking coffee.