The Ancient Art of Storytelling: Why Reading Aloud Matters

In our age of on-demand entertainment and decreasing attention spans, reading aloud to children is as vital as ever in fostering literacy and building a lifelong love of books.

Storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest traditions. Long before the written word came to be, stories were passed down orally from generation to generation. Children and adults would gather around the fire to share folktales, myths, and fables. Stories entertained but also educated, imparting cultural values and life lessons. We have an intrinsic need for auditory stories. As Plato said, “Those who tell stories rule society.”

Nowhere is this need more evident than in young children. Watch as a new baby stares in rapt attention as their mother or father sings a song to them or tells a story. Or how a toddler yearns for more words, always asking questions and for one more story.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), reading aloud to young children promotes parent-child bonding, language development, and later reading success. But reading aloud does so much more than just this. Reading aloud introduces new vocabulary, complex sentence structures, and concepts not used in everyday speech. Hearing stories read with expression exposes children to the rhythms, cadences, and the music of language.

Regular read-aloud time builds motivation, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, especially when children are free to ask questions and interact. Reading aloud also nurtures imagination and creativity. Children visualize the action, characters, and settings as they get drawn into a story. This phenomenon is even more apparent when a child listens to a story without pictures.

Try This:

Share a story you are familiar with and then ask your child to describe a character in the story - it can be pretty enlightening and charming to hear their responses!

For older children, reading aloud serves different but equally valuable purposes. Author Pam Allyn notes that reading aloud builds listening stamina and content knowledge needed for academic success. Hearing more advanced texts promotes language development for tweens and teens. Shared reading time also provides together time and conversations that strengthen family bonds.

In our technology-driven world, reading aloud demonstrates that we care, that we are present, and fulfills a need that our young children have. The sights, sounds, and rituals of reading aloud—cuddling close, turning pages, or guessing what comes next, sharing imagery or pointing out pictures — engage a child’s senses and create positive associations with books. A 2013 study found that reading aloud to babies not only stimulates language skills but also activates the brain networks for visual imagery and emotional connection.

Reading aloud is a time-honored tradition that remains an unrivaled way to foster literacy and lifelong learning. In our busy modern lives, carving out read-aloud time shows children they—and the stories that shape them—matter.