A delightful book can transport us to many places, depending on how active our imagination is. We learn unfamiliar words and phrases, connect with new cultures, and experience a range of emotions. We also gain new skills and knowledge.

Reading for pleasure improves a child’s mental health, wellbeing, and social and cognitive development. It's a great source of information that builds their knowledge-seeking behavior. It encourages children to connect with the world around them. Reading improves kids’ intelligence in these 3 ways.  

Builds Memory

Consistent reading builds a child’s memory and enhances their concentration. The logical flow of information helps their brain comprehend and deeply understand the subject being read. 

Reading feeds children’s brains with basic knowledge which is useful for working memory, long-term memory, and short-term memory. This knowledge helps them easily understand what they hear, see, or read--connecting recent information with the older. Reading enhances cognitive development, of which memory is a part.

An article by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that engaging the brain through reading can lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 2.5 times. Reading exercises the brain, preventing inactivity, which can cause Alzheimer’s. 

Fluid intelligence, the ability to understand things, detect meaningful patterns,  and solve problems is enhanced by reading. This intelligence can be developed by performing working-memory tasks. It also improves reading comprehension.

Enhances Emotional Intelligence 

Reading an engrossing book makes a child get immersed in the story. They develop empathy when they experience the characters’ lives and identify with their feelings. 

Children can apply this understanding in real life by being empathetic to other people. Being considerate of other people, especially their mental state, is essential to creating meaningful social relationships.

The new cities, countries, or alternative worlds a book can take children to increases their understanding. It also helps them become more tolerant of other people’s cultures and traditions. 

Books also help children identify and deal with their emotions, understanding them better. This enhances their social development. Reading literary fiction is linked to higher emotional intelligence than reading popular fiction, non-fiction, or nothing at all.

Higher Intelligence Scores

Sometimes reading a book requires visualizing the characters, their environment, and what happens next. The more a child reads, the more they use their imagination. This developed imagination, combined with a child’s natural curiosity, enhances their creativity and builds intelligence. 

Children with strong reading skills may have higher intelligence levels as adults. They may be more creative, reach higher education levels, and have improved health and socioeconomic status.

Reading out loud to children allows them to learn new phrases and vocabulary. And the simple act of reading teaches children to sit still for extended periods. 

A study on twins discovered that those who had better early reading ability remained better at reading as they aged. They also scored higher on general intelligence tests. The study linked this early reading ability to improved nonverbal intelligence, vocabulary, and general knowledge. 

Remedying reading problems early on can improve children’s developmental capacities and prepare them better for adult life. Online reading programs for kids can make the process easier.