Why Is Reading Important for Kids of All Ages?

All Why Is Reading Important for Kids of All Ages?
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When it comes to reading benefits, the most clear one is acquiring new information. But with just that point, this activity would be hugely underestimated. Some other reasons why reading is important include improved cognitive thinking, concentration, and imagination. Let’s dig deeper together and explore how this usual activity can change kids’ lives.

Key points

  • Reading is primarily intended as a means to convey data of all kinds. That’s why reading competence is a building block towards success in any school subject and a critical aspect of overall literacy development.
  • Why are reading skills important? Think better analytical and critical cognition, improved memory, and refined language skills.
  • After getting a yes to the “Is reading important?” question, many parents start seeking the best way to improve this skill. Learning with a tutor proves to be the top option. It helps to concentrate on personal needs and target exact weak points.

Why reading is important for students?

Reading is important for students because it helps them develop their language skills, expand vocabulary, and build critical thinking, and this foundation is often laid in elementary school. Additionally, it can enhance communicative skills and stimulate readers’ imagination.

What is the purpose of reading?

The primary purpose of reading is the transmission of information. It also acts as a tool for amusement, knowledge expansion, cognitive skill development, and emotional intelligence enhancement. This way, the benefits of reading for students serve a variety of needs.

What are 10 benefits of reading?

Note: The reasons why reading is important for students are numerous and many-sided. But the final benefit will mostly depend on the types of books you choose. Based on my teaching experience, I advise you to avoid the samples that promote misinformation, contain excessive violence without context, or lack educational or literary value.

Importance of reading #1: Better concentration

The attention span of an average person is reducing drastically. The shocking research by Microsoft revealed that the focus time dropped from 12 seconds in 2000 to 8 seconds in 2013. Although we don’t have any updated figures as of 2025, these findings are still revealing, especially considering that a goldfish’s attention span is estimated as 9 seconds.

Now that we know that concentration doesn’t come easily to people, the importance of reading should be evaluated even higher. Any type of text can be used to improve focus, from fiction novels to newspapers and technical writings, such as textbooks or scholarly articles.

Importance of reading #1: Better concentration

However, the reading benefits for students will differ depending on the approach they take. The tutoring expert would like to share just one advice to achieve the maximum result:

“When reading, kids tend to be distracted by everything — from mobile phones to a friend’s chat and lights blinking somewhere in a corner.”

Naturally, you should try to reduce the influence of any possible distractions by shutting off notifications, putting your phone away, and making every effort to create a peaceful, comfortable reading environment.
Author Laila A. Lico
Laila A. Lico
Brighterly reading tutor

Reading is essential for success! Brighterly helps kids love this subject

Unfortunately, in a world dominated by tech, kids often ignore the value of reading. According to recent research, the average teenager spends more than 8 hours per day with their devices, most of the time chatting, playing games, and watching videos.

Under such conditions, parents may want to take some decisive actions. If you, too, understand the importance of reading for students, one of the most helpful pieces of advice I can offer is to consider professional help from reading tutors. And if you don’t want to spend hours seeking a good specialist, the Brighterly reading program is a must-try.

Reading is essential for success! Brighterly helps kids love this subject

The importance of reading: How can Brighterly help young learners?

  • One-on-one instruction is used here, which reduces stress and promotes greater collaboration between the teacher and the students.
  • The impact of reading at Brighterly will always be greater, as they utilize vibrant tasks and interactive exercises to foster engagement. They also recognize the value of home practice and are about to introduce reading worksheets with a collection of free tasks (coming soon!). 
  • Since their curriculum is in line with the Common Core, all of the subjects they cover correspond to the schedule of the school.
  • They allow you to choose from four fixed-price plans, and won’t impose any extra fees. Brighterly is one of those platforms committed to providing an affordable price for any learner.

Importance of reading #2: Developed empathy

Many ask why reading is important, undermining the role of fiction. So hugely underestimated these days, this type of literature helps kids become more empathetic and feel emotions more deeply. 

The fact is that literary books often show us diverse perspectives. So, they make us analyze the world from different angles and understand the psychology of characters.

This illustrates the importance of reading books — after all, many novels explore real-life situations, offering valuable lessons and helping kids become more prudent and intuitive versions of themselves.

Importance of reading #2: Developed empathy

Note: After a glance at why are reading skills important, you might start wondering what your kid’s current levels of proficiency are. Luckily, you can easily discover it. Just check these reading tests for students in grades 1-9 developed by Brighterly, and you’ll see an exact score in minutes.

Importance of reading #3: Stress relief & sleep improvement

Why is reading the most important subject in school? But being an indispensable component of your child’s performance in ANY subject, it also has a therapeutic effect. 

Thus, turning reading into a pre-sleep habit helps alleviate stress and promotes faster sleep onset. When practiced regularly, it allows you to create a comforting routine directly connected to sleep and security.

Importance of reading #3: Stress relief & sleep improvement

Here’s a quick tip on how you can start:

“First, set reading goals. You can start with 5 pages, and increase the number steadily”

Additionally, I’d advise physical books over other types. Blue light emitted from screens can suppress melatonin and cause sleep delays, resulting in the opposite effect.
Author Laila A. Lico
Laila A. Lico
Brighterly reading tutor

Now you know for sure that learning to read will set students up for success and also improve their well-being. So, why not start developing this healthy habit right away?

Importance of reading #4: Accelerated critical thinking

Both fiction and non-fiction pieces work well in developing the ability to analyze and critically evaluate various things. For example, the varied situations described in novels prompt kids to question usual norms, while more complex, technical texts foster creative problem-solving.

Thus, reading is important because, over time, kids will be able to develop independent arguments, support their point of view, and provide clear evidence for their thoughts.

Importance of reading #4: Accelerated critical thinking

Note: Why is reading important? This study shows a strong correlation between reading and logical reasoning. Besides, this activity helps to expand the lexicon, enabling people to express their thoughts more clearly.

Importance of reading #5: Refined language skills

The importance of reading is also hidden in the writing styles and vocabulary diversity used. It clarifies why is reading important in education, where success in each subject directly depends on whether a child can understand a task and articulate their response. The skill is also valuable in everyday life, where efficient communication is pivotal. 

Importance of reading #5: Refined language skills

Note: These days, there’s a wealth of diverse resources that can help you with reading. Free and paid, accessible and premium — some of the best options are collected in the article “Best Reading Program for Kids”. I’m sure that you’ll be able to find your ideal variant there.

Importance of reading #6: Enhanced analytical thinking

Any type of book is meant to dissolve a mystery of some kind. School textbooks are all composed of problems and puzzles, while novels also contain tangled plot twists. Sharpening one’s analytical thinking is essential to complete all tasks promptly.

Reading is important because it teaches how to analyze, evaluate, and make judgments. But here’s a trick: this skill requires ongoing development. That’s why the role of a vigorous reading habit cannot be overstated.

Importance of reading #6: Enhanced analytical thinking

Note: By now, you know that reading is essential for succeeding in practically any life domain. However, the truth is that only a small percentage of children have developed this habit. According to the statistics, only about 25% of kids across all age categories report reading for pleasure. May this be your motivation to help your child fit into that tight number.

Importance of reading #7: Boosted memory

The importance of reading for school success is highlighted even more once you learn that the process triggers memory centers in our brains. When reading, children attempt to memorize minor details, like character names, plot, and setting. After some time, this memorization becomes a habit, and their short-term and long-term memories also become stronger.

Note: Inspired by these learning benefits, parents often begin to note a child’s reading speed. Although this characteristic will vary by grades and specific reading comprehension style, it can be increased for all learners. “How to Increase Reading Speed: 10 Best Methods in 2025” is a valuable article that shares the most relevant tips for your home practice.

Importance of reading #8: Advanced imagination

Reading books helps kids transfer into an imaginative world created by an author’s mind. While reading those creative pieces, kids also learn to think out of the box. This new style motivates them to approach usual problems in a non-trivial way and seek alternative solutions when needed.

Importance of reading #8: Advanced imagination

Note: If you’re specifically seeking to develop creativity with your child, the top three book genres I recommend include fantasy, adventure, and poetry. These types have the most power to immerse kids in made-up worlds and make them guess future plot turns.

Importance of reading #9: Faster cognitive development

Just remember all the benefits we’ve just discussed! They highlight the importance of reading skills for multi-sided and more steep cognitive development. After all, reading is a mental workout, and doing it regularly prepares kids for solving challenging real-life tasks.

Importance of reading #9: Faster cognitive development

Note: Interestingly, the study on reading correlation to cognitive development found that this activity helps to expand not just vocabulary, but also math competency.

Importance of reading #10: Overall better mental well-being

If you ever ask about the most crucial benefits of reading books for students, one of them will definitely be better welfare. But the types of books you choose matter greatly here! Opt for motivational, slow-paced, and reflective literature, which helps to concentrate and calm down, even during stressful life episodes.

Note: Wondering where to start from? I strongly recommend the following samples, depending on the age group: “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld for children between 4 and 8, “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio for children aged 8 to 12, and “The Giver” by Lois Lowry for teenagers.

Why is reading so important? Conclusion

By now, you have a clear understanding of why is it important to read. Children who read regularly can memorize information more effectively, reason more analytically, and articulate their thoughts more clearly. These and many other benefits make reading so crucial for excelling in practically any branch of science and life, in school, college, and professional activities.

Soo… It’s never too late to start developing this valuable habit. And the Brighterly guided tutoring help is just right for this purpose. After all, why not  book  free  reading  lesson and test the flow without commitments? Any routine is easier when under supervision, so it may be your sign to start right now!

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