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Early childhood is a critical period for human brain development. At this stage, a healthy lifestyle can enhance cognition and well-being during other periods of life, such as adolescence and adulthood. It can also provide resilience in times of stress.
And now a study published in the journal Psychiatry found that children who read for pleasure in early childhood tend to have better mental health and cognitive performance during adolescence.
Understand the research
Researchers from the UK and China analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) project. This is an American research program that includes more than 10 thousand participants of different ethnicities and socioeconomic status.
Of the youth analyzed, nearly half began reading in early childhood. On the other hand, the other half either did not have this habit or started it later in life.
In addition to habits readingThe researchers also analyzed clinical interviews, cognitive tests, mental and behavioral assessments and brain scans.
The aim was to compare the results of those who started reading for pleasure between the ages of 2 and 9 with those who started reading later – or who did not yet have the habit.
As a result, the study found that reading for pleasure in early childhood was associated with better scores on cognitive assessments.
Children who read for pleasure also have larger cortical areas in several areas of the brain, including frontal areas, which are linked to cognition and mental health.
This condition was also associated with better behavior in adolescence. Children who started reading early had more interest in school, and were less aggressive and rule-breaking.
Reading for pleasure in childhood was also associated with fewer mental health problems, such as depression and stress. Another important point is that these children also spend less time on electronic devices.
Reading enhances cognition
It is already known that language learning is a key factor in healthy brain development. Reading and discussing books is part of this process.
In addition, reading is also a building block of the cognitive system. It is important for functions such as memory, planning and self-control, as well as social intelligence.
In this way, encourage reading It can help, for example, in young children to cope with some of the negative effects on their cognitive development during the lockdowns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Overall, the findings also have important implications for parents, teachers, and policy makers in promoting reading for pleasure in young children.
Later, in the future, the researchers intend to conduct investigations using data from other countries, including those that are under development.
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