I have been a book lover since I was a little girl. I still love the smell of a new book, and I get excited when I go to the library or when I am looking for a new book to read. I grew up with both of my parents reading to me daily, and I still remember them reading some of my favourite books to me.

As a parent now I want my boys to learn to love books and enjoy reading as well. We set up a bookcase filled with children’s books that they can easily access and we go to the library regularly. We also read to them daily as part of our night time routine, and they love their books.

As an extra incentive to get family’s reading, beginning March 29 through to April 26 anytime a children’s book is purchased on Amazon.ca you will receive $5.00 off of select PlaytexBaby product (exclusions apply, visit promo page for details) (#PlaytexReads). I love this partnership, and I hope it encourages parents and caregivers to get new books and start reading!

Below I am sharing a list I put together with some of the special benefits of reading to your little one that I have personally experienced. I am convinced that fostering a love for books from the beginning of their lives will turn into a life-long love for reading!

Bonding: Reading books to your child helps promote bonding and the uninterrupted one-on-one time increases intimacy and connection. Make sure to put your phone away and avoid distractions to engage fully and enjoy the benefits of reading with your little one.

Love for books: Fostering a love for books from an early age will turn into a life-long love for reading. I am sure that my love for books comes from me learning to appreciate reading when I was a child.

Calming effect: Sitting down to read a book is the perfect way to help calm down a restless child. They are sitting still and concentrating, and that helps with relaxation!

Improves vocabulary, listening skills, and imagination: Everytime you read a book to your child you are exposing them to new vocabulary and they are practicing they’re listening skills while using their imagination at the same time.

Improves attention span and concentration: When reading, children have to sit quietly and pay attention to the story to follow what’s happening. Reading helps increase their attention span and concentration. If you are reading to younger children and toddlers, start with short stories and books. You can’t expect a toddler to sit through an entire book all the time but just doing short sessions will help get them used to sit still to listen to you.

I like purchasing books for the boys on Amazon because we receive them fast and they have a great selection. Lately, we have been living the Little Golden Books, and I ordered some of my favourite Disney movie story books for the boys. They were so excited to get these, including Moana, Big Hero 6, Finding Dory and more!

Disclosure: This is a partnered post with Playtex. Compensation has been received for this review and all opinions and views on this post are 100% my own.