The Power of Reading: Storytime and Brain Growth in Early Childhood
Reading is not just a pleasurable activity—it literally helps wire the brain for language, imagination, and comprehension. The process of reading engages multiple brain areas: phonological decoding (temporal lobe), language comprehension (Broca’s area), and integrative regions like the angular gyrus that tie letters, words, and meanings together.
Regular shared reading at home is associated with stronger activation in brain regions tied to narrative comprehension and mental imagery in preschool children. In fact, children who begin reading for pleasure early tend to show better performance on cognition, memory, language, and mental health measures in adolescence.
Moreover, storytelling (rather than only picture-book reading) appears to sustain brain activation in prefrontal areas in children, suggesting that the interactive and imaginative nature of storytelling offers added benefit.
→ For a visual explanation of how early experiences shape the brain, check this video:
Best Practices for Parents & Caregivers
Make it interactive – Don’t just read; ask open-ended questions, pause to let children predict outcomes, talk about illustrations, encourage them to “read” parts.
Vary genres and content – Use picture books, short stories, poems, and eventually simple chapter books.
Tell stories aloud – Even without a book, telling stories from memory or imagination builds narrative skills.
Create daily habits – A regular storytime—before bed or midday—helps form reading as a predictable, valued ritual.
Model reading behavior – Children imitate what they see. A home rich in reading (magazines, books, etc.) reinforces literacy norms.
Reading supports emergent literacy—the building blocks of reading such as vocabulary, narrative skills, and print awareness—even before formal reading begins.
