Why reading to your child from birth matters more than you think: An expert's guide to raising confident readers

Many parents dream of raising children who enjoy reading, yet find themselves losing the battle against screens. With short-form videos, games and endless scrolling competing for a child's attention, books often take a back seat. But experts say the habit of reading is not built overnight, nor does it begin when a child starts school. It starts much earlier, with everyday conversations, bedtime stories and the simple act of reading aloud. Every stage of childhood presents a unique opportunity to shape the developing brain and nurture a lifelong love for books. Drawing on neuroscience and child development research, she outlines an age-by-age roadmap that explains what parents can do from birth through the teenage years to help children become focused, curious and independent readers.