4 Reasons to Read Realistic Books to Young Children
It was an ordinary reading time in the local library. A library employee - an older lady with big glasses was reading a children’s book to a group of young toddlers. The children were sitting in the circle with their caretakers and listening to the story. The book was about ocean animals who talked and possessed other human characteristics. Halfway through the story, the main character - a little fish, was swallowed by a large fish. At that point, a little girl of 2.5 years old started crying. Tears were pouring down her face, and there was raw terror in her face. She was obviously shaken because she believed that this really happened to the main character.
So what do reality-based books have to offer?
1. Understanding of the real world
A child needs to understand the real world first to distinguish between the real and the fantasy. That’s why we offer reality-based books to children 0-6. The younger the child, the more important this is. Once your child has a solid foundation based on real experience, she will recognize when a story is made up. This usually comes around the time when your child is approaching elementary years. She will enjoy making up her own stories and reading fantasy books that could be a little scary if she was younger.
2. Building a foundation for child’s imagination
There is one common misconception among parents about imagination and fantasy books. Parents often think that reading fantasy books promote their child’s imagination. You can’t promote your child’s imagination if he is not grounded in reality first. That’s why children believe that Santa Claus brings their presents. They don’t have enough experience in this world to understand that it's not true. So if you read a book where a little fish is speaking and going to school, your child might believe it. It won’t stimulate his imagination; it will only confuse his mind. But don’t worry. You don't need to give up on your favorite children’s books. Just think about the right timing for each of them.
3. Relating to real stories and real heroes
Children love realistic fiction stories. Often, the main character is a child who experiences something familiar. For example, visiting grandparents or moving to a new house. Your child will relate to the main characters as they remind them of themselves.
Children also enjoy biographies of extraordinary people. These stories introduce real heroes. Children easily relate to the real heroes who once were children too.
When I worked in a Montessori school, I used to read a book about an American civil engineer George Ferris. The story introduces George Ferris as a kid who loved watching the water wheel turning. This childhood experience inspired Ferris to design the first Ferris wheel. In the beginning, people called his idea crazy. Ferris had gone through a lot of struggles before building the wheel. Eventually, he proved other people wrong. Children loved this story. And I hope this story showed them that they could dream big and follow their dreams the same way Ferris did.
4. Discovering wonders of this world
Children are naturally drawn to nature. If you allow them to spend enough time outside, they’ll make many discoveries of their own. They’ll point to the tiniest bug crawling over a rock that most adults wouldn’t have noticed. They’ll recognize a familiar singing of a blue jay if they hear it through a closed window. The science non-fiction books help your child name the wonders of nature they already experienced and discover new ones. For example, the child will be fascinated to learn more about metamorphosis. He will ask many curious questions. “A butterfly used to be a caterpillar. Whaaat?”
What are your favorite realistic children's books? Please share them in the comments.
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33 Montessori-Friendly Books for Babies and Toddlers