They are the gateway to an attractive world of characters, stories and anecdotes, full of benefits for children and also for parents. Reading stories to children is a habit that enhances their cognitive and socio-emotional development, that connects us with them, and of course, that creates memories for a lifetime.

We all have a favorite story and something that makes us remember it fondly and nostalgically. Maybe it's the voice of our mom or dad, an illustration that we can still see clearly if we close our eyes, the place where it was read to us, the smell of the paper. Stories have the power to create magical and indelible memories. But beyond that romanticism, they have incredible benefits for the development of our little ones.

To better understand the power behind reading a story, we spoke with educational psychologist and storyteller María José Pino (on Instagram @cuentoemociones ) , and here we explain why it is such an important habit in parenting.

Benefits of reading a story

In cognitive:

• It promotes the acquisition of new vocabulary.
• Enhances the imagination.
• It expands cultural knowledge, because stories transport us and lead us to discover new places and cultures.
• It teaches content from different areas in a very natural way.

And moms and dads also benefit. “As parents, when we read a story we are certain that we are doing something right, something good for our child’s development, which is why it is a practice that helps parents’ well-being, security and self-esteem. In addition, especially in pre-speaking children, reading a story expands the vocabulary with which we communicate with that child,” explains María José.

In the socio-emotional:

• It fosters the bond between parents and their children, because reading creates a very special emotional space. It invites them to be close, to share a quiet moment and generates an instance of joint attention, where both are connected by the same subject. In addition, for children, hearing their parents' voice is something very powerful, which calms and relaxes them.

• It expands emotional vocabulary and helps them understand those emotions. Stories are full of emotional terms, they tell how a character feels and that helps children acquire that vocabulary. In addition, they explain emotional causality, so that they can understand and identify with emotions that they themselves are feeling.

• It helps children understand the other's perspective, which allows them to recognize other people's emotions and empathize with what the other person feels. In this sense, stories are very useful for resolving conflicts in children from a deeper understanding.

How to make a successful reading?

ENJOY the moment. Go into reading with the expectation that it will be a time to have fun, because despite all of its cognitive and emotional benefits, story time should feel like a relaxing space , not a time for learning. Focus on having fun and enjoying yourself.

Some tips:

• Don't ask questions. It's very common for adults to start with "what was that animal's name? What sound does it make? etc." But hold back the urge to ask so many questions, and instead listen to your child and repeat, follow his/her interest.

• Rely on illustrations. This is especially important for pre-readers, because they read through pictures. Give them time to look at the illustrations, interpret them, and ask questions.

How to choose the ideal book?

Focus on what interests your son or daughter. “I hope I can give them the experience of going to a children’s bookstore and browsing through and choosing the books themselves, because that allows them to identify with it and then want to read that story. But it is also important to choose something that interests us as a mom or dad, because adults will encourage reading to the extent that we enjoy it and get excited about it,” explains Maria José.

It's never too early or too late to start!

From pregnancy, when your baby is just starting to connect with your voice, until you read this article and understand the importance and power of stories, it is always a good time to start.

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