Why You Should Read Chinese Books To Your Kids, And Why I Read Chinese Books To My Son
It's no secret that reading Chinese books to your children is an important part of teaching your children Chinese. Since my son was born, I've been reading to him in Chinese every day.
But, what are the benefits? And why do many experts say it's so important? Here are some great reasons why you should keep up reading bilingual books to your kids!
Developing vocabulary and connecting on an emotional level.
Reading in a second language is important for children. It helps them develop their vocabulary, increase their reading speed and improve their understanding of the world around them. I want my son to grow up knowing common everyday words in both languages, so buying storybooks that teach everyday vocabulary is very important to me.
Reading to your kids is also a great way for you to connect with them on an emotional level. Children love listening to stories about other people's lives because they're fascinated by the way different cultures view things differently from ours (or may even think differently).
Learning new words and cultures in both languages.
When you read Chinese books to your child, they are exposed to new words that they may not even know in English. They will learn how to pronounce them and what they mean, and hopefully use both Chinese and English interchangeably when speaking.
Bilingual books like Chinese books also offer more opportunities for children to interact and understand different types of people that the characters or traditions in the books are based on—and this is what makes them so effective at teaching kids how important different cultural differences are and why they are special!
Reading Chinese books gives parents and children time together to connect through stories.
Chinese books can help you and your child have fun together. I love story time with my son. He very patiently allows me to read to him, and I can associate what I'm reading and explaining to actual words versus just reading in English books in Chinese.
Reading is a great way to bond with your child. It is a wonderful way to explore new things together. You can talk about what you are reading, and the stories can give you ideas for activities to do with your children based on cultural discoveries in books.
Hopefully, as you read Chinese books, your child will start to feel comfortable asking questions about what they see in these books. This can lead to interesting conversations that teach your child more about their background and how it associates or interacts with world around them.
Conclusion
As you continue your journey in reading Chinese to your children, don't give up! Sometimes, meanings may not be clear to them just yet or only partially understood. But, over time, they will get used to reading in both languages through reading and listening at home every day. The more your child reads aloud or tells you what they have read in Chinese, the better!
The more fun you can make reading in Chinese, the better too! The more time spent together doing something enriching like reading together - the more fun it will be for both of you!
