Do you know that you need to hear a word at least 7 times before you actually remember it? At least that’s what I’ve learnt from our English Literature class when I was studying in high school. But it does make sense!
The more we repeat something, the deeper it goes. I know I can remember the sequence of the animals in the book “Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See” by Eric Carle because I definitely read it at least a hundred times for my kid. (Buy this book with caution because your kid is gonna want you to read it again and again too. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!)
Repetition provides the practise that children need to master new skills. This is why your child will eventually be able to read the book themselves after you read it many times to them. Repetition in books encourages your child to anticipate, which also increases engagement in the book they’re reading.
Furthermore, repetition also helps to improve the reading speed and increase confidence in reading. Just like how if you were to bake a butter cake with the same recipe, you’d probably be able to make it faster at the 10th time and you’d know what you’re doing, as compared to the first time when you might be anxious about what ingredients should go first etc.
So don’t worry that your child will not be interested in these simple books that have repetitive content, such as “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” and “Head to Toe”, because these books have been carefully written to encourage children to read (and move!)
More books with repetitive content:
“Repetition is the mother of learning, the father of action, which makes it the architect of accomplishment.” – Zig Ziglar
