Reading to your kids is always a good idea. University of South Australia researchers found that reading aloud can triple a child’s resilience at school, particularly for children at-risk. Specifically, reading to early primary-aged children who suffered abuse or neglect was one of the biggest predictors of resilience in both boys and girls. Lead researcher Professor Leonie Segal explains, saying, “Reading out loud can create many positive outcomes for children. As a shared experience between parent and child, it encourages connection, while also directly contributing to child development through exposure to words and stories. Children in families that are struggling to create a nurturing environment will especially benefit from reading with a parent or [their care-giver], improving their resilience and keeping them developmentally more on track, despite their adversity exposure.”