As adults, we crave variety. Anything that breaks up the monotony of life is a welcomed thing. So it may be a bit perplexing when your child asks to read the same book night after night or listens to the same songs on repeat.
You may wonder if it gets boring or even if your child is getting enough exposure to new learning experiences. But if you think back to your own childhood, you may recall a book, story, or even toy that you derived hours and hours of joy from. There’s a reason for this. Kids love repetition because it benefits them!
Repetition Supports Learning
Research has shown that the repeated reading of a book is actually more beneficial for children than reading it just once or twice. When they hear a story more than once, the words and ideas they are being exposed to are reinforced.
A study published by Frontiers in Psychology took a group of 3 year olds and exposed them to new vocabulary via stories over the course of a week. When the children were tested later, those who had heard the new vocabulary by hearing the same story every day scored higher than those who had heard the same words through a variety of stories in the same week.
When your child reads the same books continuously it reinforces things like:
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Sayings and figures of speech
- Factual information dependent on what they are reading
Repetition Provides Stability
Your child is constantly being exposed to new information and experiences in their young life. It’s an exciting time, but it can be a confusing and overwhelming time, as well. Because of this, repetition can actually provide a level of structure and stability that they crave. The comfort of knowing what comes next makes them feel secure and in control.
Repetition Encourages Confidence
In their world of constant discovery, knowing something means a lot to a young child. When a child can tell you what comes next they experience feelings of pride that, in turn, develop into confidence. It feels good to know what words mean, what animals are, and what the solution to the problem is!
Repetition Made Easy
There’s no doubt that parents want to do what’s best for their kids, but reading and singing the same material can be draining. Investing in the proper screen-free technology can make reaping the rewards of repetition a breeze. Storypod is a tap-and-play audio system that allows children to access their favorite stories and songs from their curated audio library without the distraction of screens. Engaging, educational, and easy!
