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7 Surprising Benefits of Reading 20 Minutes a Day

By Ashly Moore Sheldon • May 21, 2024

1. Improved vocabulary 

People who read twenty minutes a day are exposed to an estimated 1.8 million words each year, enriching your vocabulary. At any age, improving our vocabulary leads to even more benefits. For kids and adults alike, vocabulary development will lead to improved communication and writing skills.

2. Relief from stress

Anxiety is on the rise for everyone these days, but it has become especially prevalent in children and teens. Studies have shown that reading every day significantly reduces anxiety and stress, which leads to all sorts of improvements in our health.

3. Boost mental health

Just like the muscles in our bodies, our brain needs exercise to stay strong. Research using MRI scans has shown that reading improves our brain function. Just think of reading as your daily brain workout. 

4. Build empathy

Reading stories about all walks of life helps us to understand where other people are coming from. Gaining knowledge about other cultures, lifestyles, and circumstances allow us to put ourselves in another person's shoes. Studies have shown that readers of literary fiction have greater ability to empathize with others, leading to more friends, stronger relationships, and a happier life.

5. Strengthen critical thinking

Just as reading can make us more understanding of others, it can also help us learn how to ask important questions and gain a better understanding of, well, everything. Reading twenty minutes a day has been shown to improve analytical skills, leading to greater success in all areas of life.

6. Improve your sleep

Doctors recommend reading as part of a healthy bedtime routine because, as previously mentioned, it reduces stress in our bodies. It also helps calm our minds and alleviate insomnia. Turn off your screen twenty minutes earlier and put a book in front of your face instead. You'll fall asleep more quickly and sleep more soundly.

7. Reduce mental decline

Studies have shown that reading slows the effects of mental deterioration in older adults. Again, this can be thought of in the same way as exercise for our brains. As we age, our brains need stimulation and strength-building activities like reading to stay sharp and agile.

7 tips for how to make the time!

• Print our free Read & Color Summer Reading Tracker: Great for any age, this lively sheet offers a fun way to track your reading accomplishments.
• Schedule time to read: Just as you schedule workouts and social engagements, set time aside for reading.
• Put your devices away: When you're reading, put your phone somewhere away from you so that you won't be distracted by alerts.
• Read while you eat: If you're eating alone, you might as well keep yourself company with a book. Some families even institute regular reading dinners once or twice a week.
• Keep a book on hand: If you keep a book nearby or carry it with you, you can read when you find yourself with a few minutes to spare between this and that.
• Take reading breaks: To stay effective, we all need breaks from focused activities like working or studying. Take a five-minute reading break every hour.
• Make a TBR (to-be-read) list: Don't find yourself wondering what to read next whenever you finish a book. When you hear about books you might enjoy, use our Wish List feature to create a TBR list.

Information is provided by Reading Rocket: click here to access the website. 

1. Talk to your child

Feed your child a diet of rich language experiences throughout the day. Talk with your infants and young children frequently in short, simple sentences. Tell stories, sing songs, recite nursery rhymes or poems, and describe the world around them to expose them to words. Name things. Make connections. Encourage your child’s efforts to talk with you.

2. Read Aloud

Try to read aloud to your children for 30 minutes daily beginning when they are infants. Ask caring adults to be your children’s daily reader when you are unavailable.

3. Test your child’s eyes and ears

Have your child’s eyesight and hearing tested early and annually. If you suspect your child may have a disability, seek help. Evaluations and assessments are available at no cost to parents. Call the early childhood specialist in your school system or contact the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities.

4. Choose child care carefully

Seek out child care providers who spend time talking with and reading to your child, who make trips to the library, and who designate a special reading area for children.

5. Ask the teacher about your child’s reading

Ask your child’s teacher for an assessment of your child’s reading level, an explanation of the approach the teacher is taking to develop reading and literacy skills, and ways in which you can bolster your child’s literacy skills at home.

6. Limit TV watching

Limit the amount and kind of television your children watch. Seek out educational television or videos from the library that you can watch and discuss with your children.

7. Create a reading corner

Set up a special place for reading and writing in your home. A well-lit reading corner filled with lots of good books can become a child’s favorite place. Keep writing materials such as non-toxic crayons, washable markers, paints and brushes, and different kinds of paper in a place where children can reach them.

8. Visit the library

Visit the public library often to spark your child’s interest in books. Help your children obtain their own library cards and pick out their own books. Talk to a librarian, teacher, school reading specialist, or bookstore owner for guidance about what books are appropriate for children at different ages and reading levels.

9. Show that you read

Demonstrate your own love of reading by spending quiet time in which your child observes you reading to yourself. You are your child’s greatest role model. Show your child how reading and writing help you get things done every day-cooking, shopping, driving, or taking the bus.

10. Join a family literacy program

If your own reading skills are limited, consider joining a family literacy program. Ask a librarian for picture books that you can share with your child by talking about the pictures. Tell family stories or favorite folktales to your children.

11. Give books

Consider giving books or magazines to children as presents or as a recognition of special achievements. Special occasions, such as birthdays or holidays, can be the perfect opportunity to give a child a new book.

12. Tap relatives

Connect your children with their grandparents and great-grandparents. Encourage them to read books together, talk about growing up, tell stories, and sing songs from their generation.

13. Attend book activities

Ask about free readings and other programs at bookstores in your community.

 

Citation

Adapted from: Raising Readers: The Tremendous Potential of Families. (July, 1999). Start Early, Finish Strong: How to Help Every Child Become a Reader. America Reads Challenge, U.S. Department of Education.

Click your child's grade level to access the reading tips. 

• Kindergarten 
• First Grade
• Second Grade
• Third Grade

📖 Building a Lifelong Love of Reading

Reading isn’t just a school skill — it’s a lifelong adventure! This article offers practical tips for families and educators on how to make reading a natural and joyful part of everyday life. From creating welcoming reading spaces and letting kids choose books they love, to modeling good reading habits and celebrating progress, these ideas help foster confidence, curiosity, and a true love of books. The article also highlights fun strategies like gamified challenges and reading logs to keep kids excited and engaged in their reading journey.

Why is Fostering a Lifelong Love of Reading Important?

• Cognitive and Academic Benefits 
• Emotional and Social Advantages 

Creating a Literacy-Rich Environment 

• Make Books Accessible
• Design Inviting Reading Spaces 
• Go Beyond Traditional Books 

Modeling and Encouraging Reading Habits 

• Be a Reading Role Model 
• Make Reading a Social Activity 
• Encourage Choice and Autonomy 

Making Reading Interactive and Fun  

• Bring Stories to Life
• Encourage Discussion and Creativity 

Building Consistent Reading Habits 

• Establish a Daily Reading Routine 
• Leverage Libraries and Book Clubs                                                                                               

Please click here to read the full tips for parents and educators.