The brain can identify patterns and rules through repeated exposure and practice. However, explicit memory is resource-intensive for the brain and requires effort to recall.
While reading the same book over and over again can be tedious for children, the power of repetition is immense and can make them smarter and boost their brains.
Boosting Neural Pathways
Researchers divided a group of 3- to 5-year-olds into two groups, A and B. Group A was asked to read the same book for four consecutive days, while Group B read different picture books during the same period.
The results showed that the children who read the same book every day recalled the story details more accurately, and their understanding of cause and effect improved by approximately 35%.
When children learn something new, their neurons connect and form neural pathways. These pathways are initially weak and require repeated stimulation to strengthen.
In reality, no two readings are exactly the same. Each time a child listens, the tone heard, the details in the illustration seen, the feeling of an embrace, and the atmosphere of the day are all novel experiences.
These unique, fleeting emotions, like pieces of a puzzle, continuously enrich the complete impression and the child’s inner emotions about the story, thereby constantly reinforcing brain connections.
Why can children guess what will happen next after hearing a story multiple times, right after we utter the first sentence? Because the predictive storyline pathway is developing, and children can react immediately upon hearing it.
Internalizing Language
When children hear a picture book for the first time, they encounter many new words. Although they may not understand the meanings initially, after hearing them two or three times, these words and concepts start to connect in their minds. For instance, when hearing the song “Mother Loves You” for the first time, a child may only sense that the word “love” feels warm, like a gentle hug.
After the third time, they begin to understand that “love” is not just a word but is associated with a specific action, such as “Mother opening her arms to embrace you.”
Initially abstract words, through repetition, take on vivid images, warmth, and concrete concepts that children can feel and act upon. Just as we remember the stories our parents told us or the lullabies our mothers sang, children will deeply imprint these memories in their minds.
Children encounter many new words when hearing a picture book for the first time.
The power of repetition not only helps children remember vocabulary but also creates a strong emotional connection to language. As sounds, sentence structures, voices, and tones permeate their brains, children naturally grasp the rules and rhythms of language.
Repetition serves as a bridge, enabling children to not only absorb knowledge but also develop their imagination and communication skills, laying a solid foundation for future language development and social skills.
Building a Sense of Security
Children’s brains instinctively seek to know what will happen next. When faced with something unfamiliar and beyond their control, anxiety and uneasiness are likely to set in.
Children navigate a foreign world daily, overwhelmed by new experiences and information, with little they can master or control.
To find a foothold for their nascent souls, children willingly listen to the same story repeatedly, constantly verifying if the next plot point unfolds as predicted. When each anticipated detail plays out as expected, they feel comfortable and happy.
A mother shared that after moving houses, her 3-year-old son insisted she read “The Little Black Fish” every night, which helped him feel more at ease.
Children’s brains instinctively seek to know what will happen next.
Adults are no different. When we are tired and bored, we sometimes re-watch old movies. Familiar things, like a bowl of mom’s noodle soup, can always warm the human heart.
So, when children want to hear a story repeatedly, parents should not be annoyed or think that their children are bored. In reality, this is a sign that they are seeking stability and security in a changing world.
Parents should understand that implicit learning is one of the brain’s most natural and effective methods. Seize this opportunity to nurture children’s intelligence and build beautiful and profound memories into the parent-child relationship.
These moments help children grow, providing a solid foundation for their future confidence and adaptability.
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