Green Child Magazine Winter 2015 | Page 10

It’s Never Too Early to Read The benefits of reading to your baby in the womb |by Megan McCoy Dellecese 10 We all know the benefits children can reap by being exposed to books. Especially when you start early, reading is proven to help with a child’s language development and increased word recognition, create a positive bond between parent and child, provide a great winddown before bedtime, and spark an early interest in learning that carries over to later years. But, what about the advantages for your unborn baby? We’ve all heard about talking, singing or playing music to a baby while in the womb (and whether or not it’s worth it), but there’s also something to be said for reading to a child in utero. There are numerous advantages to be had, both for baby as well as for the parents.