If your child's bedtime routine includes reading a favorite story before turning off the lights for the night, stop what you are doing! A change in the normal routine may need to happen, but don't worry, according to a study, it will be better for your child.

A recent study conducted by Harvard University shows that children actually benefit more from Dad reading to them before bed, then when Mom snuggles in for a nighttime story.

The reason? Because questions posed to the child about the book being read by Dad usually sparked more “imaginative discussions”. The Harvard study found that females tend to lean towards factual questions about the book, rather then abstract questions - which tend to be more of a male pattern.

For example, a mom might be more inclined to ask their young one a question like, "How many cows do you see?" when dad might say, "Oh, look, a cow. Remember the time we saw some cows eating grass by the road?"

Researchers say that abstract questions are cognitively challenging for your child and better for the child's language development, forcing the child to use their brains more.

Even though reading to a child is seen as more of a female activity, over time, the research from the study proved that kids seemed to be more tuned in when their dad read to them - and helping the child develop a special bond with their father, especially if dad starts reading to the child when they are under the age of two.

The Harvard Study may be on to something, but it really shouldn't matter who reads to a child. What probably should matter, however, is just that either Mom OR Dad takes the time to read to the kids.

 

 

 

 

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