I have said this more than once: I learned a lot from reading books. It led directly to my current vocation, for one thing. But before that, for example, it led to my acquisition of an excellent vocabulary and, I believe, my ability to put that vocabulary to work in a written format.
So I was intrigued when I saw the headline of this 2013 article in the Guardian: “Can children learn grammar just from reading books?” Because, yes, I believe they can, though my evidence is purely anecdotal. 🙂 But there’s more here:
If in doubt and nervous of trusting their instincts, teachers and parents should look at the considerable research around the subject. See, for example, S. Krashen in The Power of Reading: “When children read for pleasure, when they get “hooked on books”, they acquire, involuntarily and without conscious effort, nearly all of the so-called ‘language skills’ many people are so concerned about: they will become adequate readers, acquire a large vocabulary, develop the ability to understand and use complex grammatical constructions, develop a good writing style, and become good (but not necessarily perfect) spellers.”
There are other good reasons to encourage kids to read, of course. It makes them more intelligent, kinder, and keeps them out of jail. (No joke.) But as the headline also points out, reading for pleasure is a lot more fun than reading a textbook. 🙂
Tweet: Give that kid a book! He’ll learn good grammar!
Tweet: Can children learn grammar just from reading books? Yep.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”