We know that it’s important for school children to develop good reading habits, but did you know that the simple act of reading aloud to your child can help build healthy parent-child relationships and stimulate early language development in very young children? Well this week, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its “first-ever policy statement focused on literacy promotion, calling for pediatricians to advise all parents about the many benefits of reading aloud, which promotes literacy and social-emotional skills.”

Doctor Pamela High, a pediatrician and professor at Brown University, commented that the benefits of reading aloud with children every day are so great that doctors are encouraging reading at checkup appointments with parents and children. It’s such an important part of a child’s development that it’s recommended as part of the “5 R’s” of early education that begin at home:

As for parents, High said they should remember the so-called “5 Rs” of early education: reading with their children daily as part of a set routine; rhyming, singing and cuddling with them throughout the day; establishing routines and regular times for meals and sleep; rewarding them for their efforts and successes to boost self-esteem; and developing relationships that are reciprocal and nurturing. Parents should make daily reading a part of their regular, set routine.

Read more over at Huffington Post.