Oh, the stupendous, miracle wonders of the digital age!… [cough, cough]. Do you remember the last time you set aside the gadgets and read a good book to someone? How about the first time someone read you a book? Maybe it was one of your parents, an older sibling, a grandparent,
or a teacher. For some, it was a part of a nightly routine involving bedtime stories, with books like The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis or The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.

When a loved one – especially a parent – reads to a child, it can be a powerful experience that creates cherished memories and can foster a lifelong love of reading through shared stories, a soothing and familiar voice, and a special bonding experience. Benefits include:

• Improved literacy and cognitive skills. Reading aloud helps children develop their vocabulary, comprehension skills, critical thinking, and understanding of how stories are structured.
• Stronger parent-child bond. It creates lasting memories and emotional connections, teaching children the value of books and stories through one-on-one attention.
• A sense of belonging. Sharing books can help children learn to share, understand responsibility, and get a better sense of community.

Have you ever taken it a step further, reading a book to an expanded group? If not, then maybe it really is time shut off the smart phone, because it can be a highly fruitful activity for families and friends. Here’s some of the benefits of this comforting, low-pressure way to spend quality time together:

• Builds community and relationships. Shared reading creates a sense of community and belonging and provides a shared experience that can strengthen relationships.
• Fosters empathy and understanding. Reading together can help you understand different perspectives and can improve your ability to relate to and empathize with other people.
• Encourages deeper conversations. Sharing a book reading can lead to conversations about important topics and provide a healthier opportunity for folks to share their thoughts and feelings.
• Promotes personal and intellectual growth. Sharing a book with others helps each person deepen their own understanding of it, while also giving each participant the opportunity to be better understood.

Or how about reading to the too oft forgotten elderly?

There are numerous benefits in reading to our older loved ones, including:

• It provides cognitive stimulation that can slow memory decline and delay the onset of dementia.
• It aids in emotional and mental health improvements like stress reduction, alleviation of depression, and better social engagement through shared reading experiences.
• It can also promote better sleep, enhance empathy, and support a more independent and fulfilling life in the elderly.

So the next time you’re thinking about building better relationships and a stronger, more lasting community, you just might want to start with something really simple. Just ditch the modern media channels, think of a good story, find someone to share it with, and rediscover this long lost treasure.

My people, hear my teaching;
     listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth with a parable;
     I will utter hidden things, things from of old—
things we have heard and known,
     things our ancestors have told us.
We will not hide them from their descendants;
     we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
     his power, and the wonders he has done.
— Psalm 78:1-4