
I am not a reader.
Many people claim this statement as if it’s an honor badge or a title. However, a lot of us miss many things when we decide upon ourselves to avoid reading. Reading is both an art and a science, and it is sad to know that a lot of us lost this wonderful opportunity to learn, to grow and to be inspired by the value of reading.
There is more to reading than words and here are some of the very important reasons why you should learn to read, no matter how young or old you are:
Benefits of reading for children
Getting your children to love reading will reap so many benefits in the future. It is said that a child who reads will have a greater chance of becoming achievers and will also help build their emotional well being. Want some specifics? Here are some of the things your child may get if he learns to love reading:
- Increase in vocabulary – Reading is about understanding. If you read and did not understand anything, then you did not read, you just wasted time. When children read, they learn to understand and they are exposed to new words. This means that their vocabulary widens and so is their understanding.
- It helps with their understanding of the world – Depending on the books you wanted them to read, children can learn not only from you but from the books they read what is right and what is wrong.
- Creativity blossoms when you read – There is a saying which states that reading takes you to places without moving a single inch. Children who reads are more imaginative and this helps their brain develop better and faster.
Benefits of reading for students
Not only does reading makes you pass your subjects, but students that enjoys reading enjoys the following benefits as well:
- Reading helps in maturity – Reading takes time and today where people want things instantly, learning how to read develops your personality more than ever. It teaches the value of patience which is an attitude of successful and mature people.
- Continuous learning – Asides from textbooks, students who read fiction and nonfiction books learn more about history, culture and many other things that universities do not even talk about.
- Fluency in language – Reading a lot in a certain language, English for example will help students to become better at writing and also in speaking. Exposure to books not only entertains but also educates.
Benefits of reading for professionals
One of the saddest realities is that most professionals do not open books after they graduate college. However, after you graduate is the time when you need to take command of your learning. Here is how reading gives you the best chance for success:
- Successful people has a habit of reading – Successful people like Warren Buffet and Mark Cuban attributes reading as one of their key to success, here are some quotes from them:
- Mark Cuban – I read every book and magazine I could. Heck, three bucks for a magazine, twenty bucks for a book. One good idea would lead to a customer or a solution, and those magazines and books paid for themselves many times over. Some of the ideas I read were good, some not. In doing all the reading I learned a valuable lesson. Most people won’t put in the time to get a knowledge advantage. Sure, there were folks that worked hard at picking up every bit of information that they could, but we were few and far between.
- Warren Buffet – Read 500 pages like this (holding a stack of paper) every day. That’s how knowledge works. It builds up, like compound interest. All of you can do it, but I guarantee not many of you will.
- Books are mentors to help you succeed – People who are successful in life are in demand most of the time. They do talks, they write books and they do a lot of important stuff. Which is why it’s virtually impossible to get a hold of them and learn from them. However, because of books – you now have access to their learning. It’s like being mentored by a lot of people, at your own pace, at your own time.
- Leaders are readers – There is an unspoken rule that you cannot give what you do not have. But since we are all limited in experience and we can’t be everywhere all the time, our skills can be limited. But that is where reading comes into play. Reading helps you bridge the gap between what you know and what you don’t. If you want to lead better, read better – not only for your benefit, but for the people you are going to impact.
Benefits of reading for adults
Parents, grandparents and the other mature people are exempted, right? The answer is no. Reading is still vital even if you are advanced in years.
- For parents –
- Parents are the children’s first educators. They will constantly ask for your advice and will always seek you in times of trouble. Learning to read and loving to read will help you become a better parent, a trustworthy friend and a wise counselor for your child.
- Parents help their children build reading habits. If you love to read, your child in some way would be interested in what you love to do and what we teach them during their childhood will stick to them for the rest of their life. We model what we want our children to become.
- For older adults
- Reading provides mental exercise – Exercising your brain will help you lower the risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Reading is both an art and science – Readiscover yourself, level up and learn through the pages.

About The Author
Cathy spends part of her days wondering how to combine her 2 loves, writing and photography. The rest of her time she spends taking care of her two babies. Sheena, a Labrador retriever & Amanda, a Siberian husky. She’s been an OLEIA user since May.