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I love to read! I'm trying very hard to instill that in my kids as well. I think it's important and now science backs it up!
It increases intelligence. As Dr. Seuss once wrote, "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." Plus, it can boost your brainpower. Just like going for a jog exercises your cardiovascular system, reading regularly improves memory function by giving your brain a good workout.
Reading can make you more empathetic. Literary fiction, specifically, has the power to help its readers understand what others are thinking by reading other people's emotions, according to research published in Science.
Flipping pages can help you understand what you're reading. The feel of paper pages under your fingertips provides your brain with some context, which can lead to a deeper understanding and better comprehension of the subject you're reading about, Wired reports.
It may help fight Alzheimer's disease. Reading puts your brain to work, and that's a very good thing. Research published in Neurology suggests that exercising the brain may help because inactivity increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's.
Reading can help you relax. Research suggests that reading can work as a serious stress-buster. One 2009 study by Sussex University researchers showed that reading may reduce stress by as much as 68 percent.
Reading before bed can help you sleep. Creating a bedtime ritual, like reading before bed, signals to your body that it's time to wind down and go to sleep.
Reading is contagious. Seventy-five percent of parents wish their children would read more for fun, and those who want to encourage their children to become bookworms can start by reading out loud at home.