Why do we tell children to read?

扫二维码，用手机阅读

We're always telling children that books and reading are good for them, but have we ever really thought about why that's true? Exactly what do older children get out of reading novels? What do younger kids get from being read to? Does reading matter?

我们总是告诉小孩，书和阅读对他们有好处，但是我们有没有真正想过，为什么呢？小孩子应该从阅读中获得什么？阅读重要吗？

The purpose of this article is to say that, yes, it's true, reading really is important, and that there are some solid reasons why that is so. Let's begin with the practical benefits and then move on to the less tangible rewards of a life filled with reading.

写这篇文章的目的是要告诉你，是的，这是真的，阅读真的很重要。有很多可靠的证据可以证明。让我们想从实际益处开始吧，然后在论述阅读的一生有哪些可获得的好处。

Books help children devleop vital language skills.

书籍帮助孩子开发至关重要的语言技能

Reading is an important skill that needs to be developed in children. Not only is it necessary for survival in the world of schools and (later on) universities, but in adult life as well. The ability to learn about new subjects and find helpful information on anything from health problems and consumer protection to more academic research into science or the arts depends on the ability to read.

阅读是一项重要技能，需要在小孩子身上培养。不仅仅是因为这可以让你的小孩在如今的学校里生存下来，然后考上大学，而且对成年后的生活也有益处。学习新事物的能力，发现有用的信息，这些信息从健康方面的到消费者保护到最新的科学研究，再到艺术，这些都取决于阅读能力。

Futurologists used to predict the death of the printed word but, ironically, Internet has made reading more and more a part of people's daily lives. The paperless society is a myth. The computer's ability to process and analyze data means that endless variations on reports and other types of documents can be and are generated. Internet, itself an enormous new source of information and recreation, is based on the humble written word. To effectively utilize the web and judge the authenticity and value of what is found there, both reading and critical thinking skills are of prime importance.

未来学家总是预测印刷字时代的结束，具有讽刺意义的是，因特网已经使阅读变成人们日常生活的一部分。无纸时代是一个神话。电脑处理和分析数据的能力意味着可以有无数种类型的报告和其他形式的文件产生。因特网，本身就是建立在书面字的基础之上的一个巨大的信息和娱乐中心。要想有效利用网络，判断发现的东西的真实性和价值，拥有阅读和批判性思考技巧是非常重要的。

The more children read, the better they become at reading. It's as simple as that. The more enjoyable the things they read are, the more they'll stick with them and develop the reading skills that they'll need for full access to information in their adult lives. Reading should be viewed as a pleasurable activity - as a source of entertaining tales and useful and interesting factual information.

小孩阅读越多，就越善于阅读。这是很明白的事实。越享受于阅读的东西，就越沉浸于阅读，阅读技能就这样培养出来了。成年之后他们找寻需要的信息的能力培养出来了。我们应该把阅读看做一项快乐的活动——一个获取故事和有用而有趣的信息的来源。

The more young children are read to, the greater their interest in mastering reading. Reading out loud exposes children to proper grammar and phrasing. It enhances the development of their spoken language skills, their ability to express themselves verbally.

小孩阅读的越多，那么在掌握阅读技巧上的兴趣就越浓厚。大声阅读让小孩沉浸在正确的语法和短语中。这提高了他们的口头说话技巧，口语表达能力。

Reading, by way of books, magazines or websites, exposes kids to new vocabulary. Even when they don't understand every new word, they absorb something from the context that may deepen their understanding of it the next time the word is encountered. When parents read aloud to children, the children also hear correct pronunciation as they see the words on the page, even if they can't yet read the words on their own.

通过书籍、杂志和网页的阅读，让小孩接触到新的词汇。甚至当他们无法理解新词汇时，他们也会从文章中吸取到东西，下次碰到这个单词时，会加深他们对这些词汇的理解。当父母给孩子大声阅读，他们的小孩也会一边看到书上的单词，一边听到正确的发音，即使他们还不能自己读出来。

Reading can open up new worlds and enrich children's lives.

阅读能够开阔视野，增长见识

As mentioned above, reading opens doors - doors to factual information about any subject on earth, practical or theoretical. Given the wealth of available resources such as Internet, libraries, schools and bookstores, if children can read well and if they see reading as a source of information, then for the rest of their lives they will have access to all of the accumulated knowledge of mankind, access to all of the great minds and ideas of the past and present. It truly is magic !

如上所说，阅读打开了关于地球上任何主题有关的门对门到实际的信息。考虑到网络、图书馆、学校和书店等可获取的资源的充足性，如果小孩具备好的阅读能力，也将阅读当作获取信息的方式，那么他们余下的生活里，能够进去人类积累的文明、能够了解伟大的思想和过去和现在的思想。这真的很神奇。

Through books, children can also learn about people and places from other parts of the world, improving their understanding of and concern for all of humanity. This, in turn, contributes towards our sense that we truly live in a "global village" and may help us bring about a more peaceful future for everyone. This can happen through nonfiction but, perhaps even more importantly, reading novels that are set in other places and time periods can give children a deeper understanding of others through identification with individual characters and their plights.

通过书籍，小孩也能了解世界各地的人和地方。

Through stories and novels children can vicariously try out new experiences and test new ideas, with no negative consequences in their real lives. They can meet characters who they'll enjoy returning to for comforting and satisfying visits when they reread a cherished book or discover a sequel. Books also give kids the opportunity to flex their critical thinking skills in such areas as problem solving, the concepts of cause and effect, conflict resolution, and acceptance of responsibility for one's actions. Mysteries allow children to follow clues to their logical conclusions and to try to outguess the author. Even for very young children, a simple story with a repetitive refrain or a simple mystery to solve gives a confidence boost. Children can predict the patterns and successfully solve the riddles.

通过故事和小说，孩子可以间接感受到新的经历和新的想法，在实际生活中没有消极的结果。他们能见到各种人物，会喜欢为了安慰和满足。书籍给予孩子批判思考的技巧，

Children are influenced by and imitate the world around them. While a steady diet of violent cartoons may have a detrimental effect on children's development, carefully chosen stories and books can have a positive influence on children, sensitizing them to the needs of others. For example, books can encourage children to be more cooperative, to share with others, to be kind to animals, or to respect the natural environment.

儿童受周围的世界所影响和模仿。虽然暴力的卡通形象会对小孩发展产生消极的影响。给小孩认真选择会对小孩有积极影响的故事和书籍。比方说，能够教会小孩合作、与别人分享、友善对待动物和尊重自然环境的书籍。

Reading can enhance childrens's social skills.

阅读能提高小孩的社交能力

Although reading is thought of as the quintessential solitary activity, in certain circumstances reading can be a socializing activity. For example, a parent or grandparent reading a story aloud, whether from a traditional printed book or from an ebook, can be a great opportunity for adult and child to share some quiet, relaxed quality time together away from the rush and stresses of the business of daily living. They share a few minutes of precious time, plus they share the ideas that are contained in the story. In addition, older children can be encouraged to read aloud to younger ones as a means of enhancing their relationship.

虽然有人认为阅读是纯粹的孤独行为，在某些特定的情况下，阅读也是一种社交活动。比方说，父母或者祖父母大声阅读一个故事，不管是传统的纸质书还是电子书，都是大人和小孩一起享受安静、放松的时间，摆脱忙碌和生活压力的好机会。他们共享这些宝贵的时间，再加上他们共享故事里一些相同的想法。除此之外，大点的孩子还可以让他们大声阅读，通过这种方式增进你们之间的关系。

At school or at a library story hour, books can bring children together and can be part of a positive shared experience. For some preschoolers this may be their primary opportunity to socialize and to learn how to behave around other children or how to sit quietly for a group activity. Make the most of this experience by encouraging children to talk about what they've read or heard.

在学校或者图书馆，故事时间，书籍能带给孩子一起，对一些学龄前儿童，这可能是他们学前机会来社会化和学会如何在其他小孩面前表现，或者如何在集体活动安静地坐下。最大限度利用好这个经历，通过鼓励小孩谈乱关于他们读过和听过的故事。

Reading can improve hand-eye coordination.

阅读能够改善手眼协调能力

It may sound funny, but ebooks can be a way for children to improve their fine motor skills and their hand-eye coordination, as they click around a childfriendly website or click the backward and forward buttons of online story pages. They may also be picking up valuable computer skills that they'll need in school and later in life.

听起来可能很搞笑。但是电子书是改善小孩运动技巧和手眼协调的一种方式。当你点击小孩类的网站，或者在网络上点击故事书向前或者向后的标志。他们能够获得重要的电脑技能，这些技能在学校或以后的生活中会用到。

Reading can provide children with plenty of good, clean

阅读能给小孩提供很多有益的、健康的乐趣

fun!

I've saved the most important point for last. Reading can provide children with endless hours of fun and entertainment. All of the pragmatic reasons above aren't at all necessary to justify reading's place in children's lives. Stories can free up imaginations and open up exciting new worlds of fantasy or reality. They allow children to dream and may give them a good start on the road to viewing reading as a lifelong source of pleasure; so read to your young children every day.

最重要的一点我放在最后。阅读能够给小孩提供无尽的快乐和乐趣。要想证明阅读在小孩生活的地位，以上所有实际的理由都不够。故事能够开拓小孩的想象力，展现新的世界，描述新的未来。这使得小孩有梦想，让小孩有一个良好的开端，将阅读作为获得终身快乐的来源。所以，你应该每天给你的小孩读故事。

Inspire your older children to read. Give them access to plenty of reading material that they'll enjoy and discuss it with them. Sample everything - traditional printed books and ebooks on Internet, classic children's novels and fairy tales, as well as more modern stories.

鼓励大点的小孩阅读。给他们提供获得丰富的阅读材料的途径，这样他们会喜欢阅读和讨论阅读到的东西。书籍可以是传统的印刷书，也可以是网络上的电子书，经典的儿童小说、童话故事、或者现代的故事书都可以。

If a child wants to hear the same story over and over again, don't worry about it. Children take comfort from the familiarity and predictability of a beloved story that they know by heart. There's no harm in that. Reread old favorites and, at the same time, introduce your children to new stories. Your child's mind and heart have room for both.

如果一个故事，小孩想要不断地重复，这不要紧。如果小孩喜欢熟悉的故事和对故事的预测，这说明他是从心底喜欢这个故事的。这没有什么坏处。重新阅读之前读过的并喜欢的故事，同时，也给小孩读一些新的故事。无论是旧的，还是新的故事，你的小孩的内心都能接受。

So reading really does matter after all!

综上所说，阅读真的很重要。

There are so many ways in which reading continues to be both a vital skill for children to master, and an important source of knowledge and pleasure that can last a lifetime. Nurture it in your children. Make the most of all the resources that are available and waiting for you: printed books, online books, magazines and so forth. Encourage follow-up activities involving creative writing skills and the arts, as well, so that your children can reflect upon or expand on what they've absorbed and, at the same time, develop their own creativity. As you help your kids appreciate the magic of reading, you'll find that there's a whole wonderful world full of children's literature out there

阅读既是小孩必须掌握的一个重要的技巧，又是终身获取知识和快乐的来源。培养小孩的阅读习惯，最大限度地利用可以获得信息的来源：纸质书、电子书、杂志等等。鼓励小孩进行有关的活动，因为这些活动需要小孩进行创造性写作技巧和艺术。同时也能反映小孩吸收的情况，发展他们的创新能力。当你的小孩欣赏阅读的神奇之处，你会发现一个崭新的世界正等着你的小孩去体验。

that YOU can enjoy too.

© 2004 Barbara Freedman-De Vito

Barbara Freedman-De Vito has spent many years as a children's

librarian, teacher, professional storyteller, puppeteer, author and artist. She

now writes, illustrates and publishes childsafe animated stories and fairy tales

for children, which are sold through her publishing company, Baby Bird

Productions. Please visit http://www.babybirdproductions.com/

to see her catalog of fun, colorful children's books. The site also includes a

free list of suggestions for creative reading related children's activities,

plus free children's games and activity pages. In addition, the site provides

free advice for parents on helping children do their best in both their

schoolwork and in expressing their creativity.