While some people highly endorse the benefits of parents reading or narrating stories to children, others regard this activity as unnecessary because children can do it alone. While both perspectives hold merits, my opinion aligns more closely with the former view, highlighting the positive effects this shared time has on children’s development.
On one side of the debate, many people are skeptical about the necessity of such an activity, asserting that it is time-inefficient. This skepticism stems from the fact that parents nowadays are often tied up with their work, therefore not having adequate rest, let alone reading books to their children. This activity can drain their time and energy, making these should-be-enjoyable moments seem demanding and unworthy. Aside from this, with the ongoing prevalence and convenience of technological devices, such as TV and mobile phones, children are empowered to explore the wonderful worlds of books and movies by themselves, without the need for adult instruction.
Nevertheless, this viewpoint fails to factor in the significance of such a precious moment in fostering a stronger emotional bond between parents and children. That is, the reading time before bed can turn out to be a moment of sharing and confiding, in which children can express their thoughts and talk about what is going on throughout their days. In this way, parents can come to understand their children more deeply, and children can also become more open towards their parents. As a result, this activity may contribute positively to children’s well-being, as evidenced by research conducted by Oxford University, which shows a strong correlation between parental time and children’s levels of happiness.
To conclude, while dedicating time to read stories to children poses a time problem for some hectic parents, the positive implications it has for children’s growth, particularly mentally and emotionally, makes it a worthwhile tradeoff,