There is something special about a child curled up beside a parent, a grandparent or a big brother with a book open between them. The pages turn, the voices change for each character, and for a few minutes the busy world goes quiet.
It may feel like a small thing at the end of a long day. But doctors say shared reading is one of the best gifts we can give our children, and it costs almost nothing.
What pediatricians say
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated its guidance on early literacy in 2024, its first update since 2014. The AAP describes shared reading as “an opportunity to foster loving, nurturing relationships during a critical time of brain development.”
According to the AAP, reading together supports a child’s social and emotional growth, thinking skills, language and early literacy, and helps prepare children for school. The AAP encourages shared reading from birth through at least kindergarten. That means it is never too early to start, and you don’t have to wait until your baby “understands” the words.
The AAP also gives some simple advice on how to read:
- Choose print books when you can. Colorful pictures and rich, expressive language are ideal. The AAP says digital books “do not foster the equivalent parent-child interactions.”
- Make it part of bedtime. A story can help children wind down and feel close to you.
- Keep it interactive. Talk about the pictures, point to the words and let the conversation wander. If you use e-books or audiobooks, the AAP suggests keeping that back-and-forth going.
Why it matters right now
Many families are noticing that reading for fun is getting harder to protect. In the United Kingdom, the National Literacy Trust found in its 2026 survey that just 36.1% of children and young people aged 8 to 18 said they enjoy reading in their free time. That is a slight rise from 2025, when enjoyment was at its lowest since the Trust first asked the question in 2005.
The good news is that a love of books often starts at home, on a couch or at a bedside, with someone who cares.
How to start (or restart) tonight
- Start small. Ten minutes counts. One picture book counts. Consistency matters more than length.
- Let them choose. Even if it is the same dinosaur book for the 40th time, a child who picks the book is a child who wants to listen.
- Ham it up. Silly voices, dramatic pauses and sound effects turn a story into a memory.
- Ask, don’t quiz. “What do you think happens next?” or “How would you feel if that were you?” invites your child into the story without making it feel like homework.
- Don’t stop when they can read. Older kids still love being read to. Try a chapter book together, a page each, or read aloud as a family after dinner.
- Bring in the whole family. Grandparents can read over a video call, older siblings can read to younger ones, and a library card is free in many communities.
- Put the phones away. Story time is a great screen-free pocket of the day, for parents too.
Reading the best Book together
For Christian families, story time is also a beautiful chance to share God’s Word. A children’s Bible, a short psalm at bedtime or a favorite parable read aloud can plant seeds that grow for a lifetime. Paul reminded young Timothy that the faith he carried began at home, long before he was grown.
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)
You don’t need to be a great reader or a perfect parent. You only need to show up, open a book and let your child hear your voice. Those quiet minutes add up to a childhood full of stories, and a heart that knows it is loved.
Through every storm, we rise together.
What was your favorite book to read aloud as a family, and which one do your kids ask for again and again?
Sources: HealthyChildren.org (AAP), “Beyond Literacy: Shared Reading Starting in Infancy Offers Lifelong Benefits” (Sep 29, 2024); National Literacy Trust, “Annual Literacy Survey” (2026); KJV 2 Timothy 3:15
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