The Importance of Reading to Children

Let me tell you a story…

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Years ago, my wife and I flew down to the Bahamas. When we landed, we were met by a woman with her five year old twin daughters, who were both blind at birth. The woman came up to us and asked, “Can you help us?” and I responded, “What do you need?” She told us that one of her daughters had optic surgery as an infant, making it possible for her to see, but her other daughter was still blind. She wanted to know if we could help arrange the surgery for her other daughter. We said we would do whatever it took to help, offering to fly her to Miami for the surgery. I called my friend, an ophthalmologist, and asked him if he would be willing to help with the surgery. He said it would not work because the eye is connected to the brain by an optic nerve. The brain cells behind the optic nerve have to be stimulated at a very early age in order for sight to be experienced. Without stimulation, the cells go dormant and can’t be restored. I was frustrated and disappointed because I had to let the woman know that there was no hope. But it taught me that the optic nerve behind the eye needs to be stimulated. I realized that if I could stimulate the brain and teach children to read at a young age, they would have better brain and eye development in the areas that deal with reading.

My wife and I set out to teach each of our grandchildren to read at the age of three. We spent 10 minutes per day reading the Dick and Jane books. First, we made a big deal after they read the first page. Then we made a big deal after they read five or six pages. When they finished the book, we took them to the toy store and told them they could pick out any toy they wanted as their reward. It was a big day and the excitement was palpable. We called their Mom and Dad and were very animated about their successes. They loved it. My oldest grandson is now attending the University Of Notre Dame and was the valedictorian of both his grade school and his high school. My granddaughter, one of three here in our hometown, was the valedictorian of her grade school. The rest of our grandchildren are very smart and can read quite well. It would be no surprise to me if all of them were the valedictorians of their classes. There is no doubt in my mind that learning to read at an early age opened the door for each of them and their many accomplishments. Reading is the key to knowledge. Before the age of five, there are 250,000 nerve cells built per minute in children. We cannot take all the credit for their achievements, but I know that strengthening their nerve cells, building their synapses, and connecting their neurons through reading were some of the most important things we could have done for our grandchildren. 

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Bill O'Donnell