Growing Bookworms – Are there benefits to repetitive reading?
Posted: August 11, 2021 Filed under: Books, Growing Bookworms, Literacy, Reading | Tags: Growing Bookworms, Reading, Robbie Cheadle, teaching reading, Writing to be Read 48 Comments
“As adults, we know that you might read a complex book and, if you read it again, it allows you to absorb all the different elements over time. It’s true for children too. Not only do children love having the familiarity of their favourite books but the repetition is so valuable.”
DR ELIZABETH WESTRUPP
When my boys were young, they liked to have the same book read to them over and over again. With Greg it was the Farmyard Tales about Poppy and Sam and their dog called Rusty.
Greg was about two and a half years old when he went through this repetitive reading stage. Every afternoon when I got home from work, he would ask me to read Farmyard Tales to him. It was fortunate for me as I was pregnant at the time and busy working on a big transaction; Greg’s love of these books enabled me to rest a lot more than I would have been able to if he’d wanted to play outside.
You can find out more about Poppy and Sam here:
Michael went into this book reading stage later. He was about five years old when he decided he loved The Enchanted Wood series by Enid Blyton. I read this book to him so many times I learned sections of it off by heart. Michael also loved the Famous Five series also by Enid Blyton. Thankfully, I was smart enough to get the audio books of the whole series and so I didn’t have to read these to him repetitively. He liked Five go off in a caravan the best and his listening to this story nearly drove me mad eventually.
Back to today’s question: Is repetitive reading good for children?
According to a number of child psychologists repetitive reading does have some important benefits, in particular, children take longer to encode information that older children and adults and they forget faster. Repetitive reading helps young children to remember patterns, new and unusual words, and connect key concepts in the story. In other words, repetition helps develop better comprehension.
Repetitive reading also helps children learn to see things from a different perspective and undergo a different learning experience if you add some new nuances into your reading of the same story. It also helps make reading a story for the 20th time more fun.
Two other benefits of repetitive reading are as follows:
1. Children develop language fluency through repetition. It also helps them to learn sequencing and understanding the two concepts of timing and placing in a story;
2. Repetitive reading also helps develop confidence when a child knows the story and is able to remember what happens next. It also enables the child to re-tell the story to peers or a younger sibling.
Some books that are fun to read over and over again to children are the Dr Seuss books. I always find those books a lot of fun to read, even though I have read them many times, including to my own younger siblings.
I’m going to end off with a great quote from Dr Seuss:
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
About Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children’s author and poet with 9 children’s books and 2 poetry books.
The 7 Sir Chocolate children’s picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie has also published 2 books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has 2 adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories in the horror and paranormal genre and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie writes a monthly series for https://writingtoberead.com called Growing Bookworms. This series discusses different topics relating to the benefits of reading to children.
Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com/ where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.
Find Robbie Cheadle
Blog: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/
Blog: robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com
Twitter: BakeandWrite
Instagram: Robbie Cheadle – Instagram
Facebook: Sir Chocolate Books
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Writing to be Read 
Reblogged this on Robbie's inspiration and commented:
My Growing Bookworms post today is about whether there are benefits to repetitive reading with children. Thanks for hosting me Kaye Lynne Booth of Writing to be Read blog.
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As your books illustrate, there are benefits to repetitive reading. Thank you for introducing me to Farmyard Tales about Poppy and Sam as well! 🙂
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Hi Marian, I find repeat reading beneficial sometimes myself. I am currently repeat reading Divine Comedy as it’s complex and I think I missed things the first time around. Thanks for visiting.
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This is great Robbie, and very true. Another benefit of repetitive reading to children that benefits them when learning to read, is recognising that the words of a story that are written down remain the same while the words of a story that is told orally may change from telling to telling. Knowing that the words remain consistent helps them unlock the words when they come to reading the story for themselves, from when they first ‘read’ the pictures, retelling the story they’ve heard, through recognising some of the words to all of the words. Oftentimes parents may try to change the words or leave out parts when they’re reading for the umpteenth time, but children will often correct them. What a great indicator of learning!
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Hi Norah, thank you for adding your experience here. I remember my boys reading the story due to memorising the words. It was always so exciting and they were so proud. Michael would tell me off if I missed out anything from his favourite stories. Greg soon got tired of waiting for me to finish what I was doing and started reading by himself. When he was six he was already reading 50 pages a day. Funny little chap! PS, I picked up your book today. Hooray! The post office apologised. The one closest to me has closed down and so it was sent to another which cause an additional delay. I didn’t even know the one near me had closed as I rarely use the post office. Thank you so much, it looks amazing.
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I’m pleased you were able to add the knowledge from your experiences with your boys to mine. Clever boys. Lucky boys to have a wonderful supportive mum. It makes such a difference.
I’m so pleased the book arrived at last. It took such a long time. I hope you enjoy the stories. 🙂
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Hi Robbie,
What a great topic. The benefits of repetitive reading are many. My favorite book was Little Bear’s Visit and I learned to recognize the words. When my kids were little, theirs was Where the Wild Things Are and they would help by filling in certain parts when I came to them. Not only does it improve reading skills, but I think it also helps build a relationship between parent and child. 🙂
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Hi Kaye, weren’t these just the best times with our kids. I miss reading with my boys. Sometimes during the holidays, Michael still comes and lies next to me and reads while I do. It is lovely when he does. After we finish reading, he tells me all this stories of the day.
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Memories like these make parenting a rewarding experience. It’s great that they are centered around reading and books. Good times. 🙂
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A great post to share! So many parents get tired of reading the same book over and over… BUT, that’s how we grow bookworms! Like you, I have read several books at least twice, often digesting desserts I missed the first time. ❤
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Hi Bette, I am glad to know you also re-read books. I was a bit clever with my sons and encouraged them into liking books I liked so the re-reading wasn’t bad at all.
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I feel that repetitive reading also helps the child develop relationships. They see the book’s characters as friends, beings they like to spend time with. When they are older, perhaps they feel similar feelings and form attachments to other children, animals, etc. due to that internal programing (for lack of a better way to say it). All in all, it’s a good thing.
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Hi Annette, that is an interesting idea and makes perfect sense. I can remember feeling very attached to characters in books, in particular, Emily of New Moon and Anne of Green Gables.
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It’s good to know about all those benefits to repetitive reading; my kids were the same as yours; there were some books they just liked to hear over and over. And I agree that the Dr. Seuss books are great for this. By the way, I noticed you have Bookworks in the title, not Bookworms…
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Thanks for that catch, Jim. 🙂 It got past both Robbie and I. But it is now corrected.
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happy to help 🙂
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Thank you, Kaye. Sorry about that.
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Hi Jim, thanks for catching that error. Dr Seuss are great books for young kids. One of the inspirations for my own children’s books and the reason I went with rhyming verse. Another terrific series are the Mr Men books by Roger Hargreaves. Michael even liked his Little Miss series which has now gone to my youngest niece for her enjoyment.
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I had forgotten all about the Mr. Men series – my kids liked those as well…
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Truthfully, I wouldn’t even consider this a question. Repetitive reading–sure!
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Not all parents are the same, Jacqui. My mom never read with me, but I can remember my Granny Joan reading Little house in the big woods to me. That was a start of a long-term love affair with the Little House series of books for me. She only read it once though.
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That’s interesting. We read all the time in my family–the kids still want to do virtual reading hours together and they’re mid-30’s!
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This is fundamental to growing readers. While parents may tire of reading the same book to their child, it is hugely important. I tell the parents in my class, “Good books are meant to be read over and over again.”
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Hi Jennie, I know that you repeat read to the children in your class. They are lucky to have you and benefit from your wisdom and energy. I don’t remember any of my teachers, other than Sister Agatha who was also the provider of many unusual books to me, reading to the class at all. Certainly no-one read to me when I was very small. That is probably why I learned so young; I had to get there somehow.
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I had the same experiences as a child, including never going to a library. I somehow found a way to get there, too. When my children were little, I began reading (and repeat reading) in earnest. Fortunately that has carried through to my classroom. Best to you, Robbie.
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Excellent post Robbie. Yes, yes, yes. I love rereading to my grandkids and my granddaughter is a hoot. I might purposely skip a word or change something and she always catches me. So important.
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Hi Carla, you are a wonderful grandmother. My own grandmother is one of the only people who read to me and I remember it well. Thank you for sharing your experience here.
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Because I was always an avid reader, it came naturally that I read to my children and grandchildren. As an educator it always shocked me when parents said that they did not read to their children. It was something I really pushed with parents of the young ones.
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My own experiences with children tell me that repetitive reading is beneficial. My son is now 28, and I was joking around with my wife the other day about a book we used to read to him all the time. We both still knew all the words even though we hadn’t cracked it open for more than 20 years.
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HI Pete, 28 already, wow. My oldest is 18 and finishing school this year. I keep wondering how that happened. I can remember the words of many books I read on my own and books I read to my sons. Michael liked repetitive reading more than Greg and for much longer too. I think he found it comforting. Greg is a bit like me, once something is done, its done.
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I’m more like Greg and you. I seldom reread a book or watch a movie over. I already know what happens and it’s the suspense of not knowing or trying to predict what will happen that I find the most stimulating.
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Speaking of Dr. Suess and repetitive reading, I remember a visit from my brother when his daughter was 18 months old, and she pestered him the whole time to read Hop on Pop. (And reread Hop on Pop.) It was quite comical. (For me, probably not for him.) The repetitive read I remember pestering my dad for was Alfred Noyes’ poem “The Highwayman.” And “Jonathan Bing”!
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Michael loved Hop on Pop too. We had a lot of fun with Dr Seuss. How interesting that you asked your father to read The Highwayman. You were a poet at heart even then. I don’t know Jonathan Bing and when I googled it a politician came up.
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Here’s poor old Jonathan Bing: https://www.bussongs.com/songs/jonathan-bing
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I’ve never heard this before, Liz. What a fun poem.
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Thanks for this great article, Robbie. I know most kids love having their favourites read over and over – you’ve really outlined all the great benefits of this. Toni x
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Thank you, Toni. I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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Reblogged this on NEW OPENED BLOG > https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Thank you for sharing, Michael.
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You are welcome, Robbie! Always a great pleasure. xx
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Thanks for sharing, Michael. 🙂
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I fully agree, Robbie! Repetition is the best, for keeping things in mind. The best for children too, and if there are illustrations or reproducible and edible visualizations its in my meaning the best children can get. With the “Sir Chocolate series” you are a role model par excellence! xx Michael
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Hi Michael, thank you for your lovely comment. I agree that repetition, pictures that relate to the story, and simple but fun storylines are idea for children. I hope you have a lovely weekend with nice weather.
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There you are definitely a role model. Thanks! xx
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You make great arguments for repetitive readings, and I enjoyed reading the thoughts of the commenters as well. I was (and still am) a fan of fairy tales, and there were some collections and some stories in particular, I never grew bored with. When I was older I would read certain parts of my favourite novels and books as well. And I agree with your comment about the Divine Comedy, Robbie. Complex novels or articles become clearer (and/or reveal more of their meaning) the more we read them. A great article.
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Hi Olga, I am also a big fan of fairy tales, they are so deliciously awful, aren’t they? I love Hans Christian Anderson and the Grimm Brothers [so appropriately named]. I also like nursery rhymes and know many by heart. I am loving this second round of Divine Comedy. I am appreciating it so much more.
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I think repetitive reading when kids are just learning to read is also very beneficial. It certainly helped my youngest when we learned he was behind in his reading skills. I may still have the dinosaur book my oldest loved so much memorized, lol.
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Hi Teri. thank you for adding your own experience with repetitive reading. It is certainly a helpful tool with reluctant readers.
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