What is a key benefit of reading aloud to young children?

Reading aloud to young children has numerous key benefits, and one of the most significant is that it models fluent and expressive reading. When adults read aloud, they demonstrate proper pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation, which can help children understand how words sound and how sentences flow. This modeling can significantly enhance children's own reading skills as they learn to recognize different pacing and emotions embedded in language.

Furthermore, hearing expressive reading can also foster a deeper emotional connection to stories, making the experience more engaging and enjoyable. This, in turn, encourages children to develop a love for reading, which is crucial for their literacy development.

In contrast, options that imply negative outcomes, such as limiting vocabulary exposure or reducing children's engagement, do not align with the benefits of reading aloud. Instead, reading aloud actually expands vocabulary and fosters a desire for engagement with texts, benefiting overall literacy and language development.