Just about every family nowadays has a TV in the home. Years ago, instead of watching TV, people often read books or listened to the radio. Parents read to their children, taking them on great adventures to far away places. Grandparents read to their grandchildren when they came to visit.

Reading to a small child helps instill an interest in books, while for the older adults, reading is a great brain stimulant. Watching TV does not force you to use your imagination to the extent that reading a book does. With TV, the scene is laid out for you; in a book, you must imagine the characters and settings for yourself.

Reading books can take you on many a journey to other parts of the world, other peoples lives, and allows you to experience what and how these lived. Reading helps with writing as well, because as you read you see the different ways in which other people write. For obvious reasons, reading will also increase your vocabulary.

As you read to your child and teach them the joy of books, both of you will have time together that will be remembered for years to come. You will be able to see the joy of your child as the story unfolds, and you are asked again and again to read that special story again. Stop and think of your favorite book as a child, as well as the wonderful memories you can recall from that book. Reading is a great gift to pass on to your children and grandchildren.