The creation of writing gave birth to a new medium - an incredible method of preserving and distributing facts that revolutionized the way we experience stories—the book.

Reading is not just for entertainment. Committing a part of your day to reading can relax you, make you kinder and also smarter. And the benefits of reading can be reaped at any age. Exposing children to magazines and books at a tender age is an incredible way to encourage them to be lifelong readers. Keep scrolling to explore some benefits of reading every day.

Reading can increase empathy

Reading books can make you a kinder individual. A study published in 2013 reported that individuals who read literary fiction can sense and relate to emotions more easily in other people. Good literature compels readers to empathize with the fictional characters that they are reading about.

Reading boosts intelligence

People who read voraciously early in life often grow up to be intelligent adults. A study in 2014 studied the cognitive development of 1,890 sets of identical twins. When twins shared the same home environments and genes, early reading skills became the determining factor of which twin would be better at verbal tests and non-verbal tests. As reading ability is something that is learned, the authors of the study posited that more focus should be on teaching reading skills to children.

Reading can make you strong

Just like the other muscles in our body, our brain needs workouts too, and reading is an excellent way of working out those synapses. Studies suggest that reading requires some complex brain functioning that becomes more sophisticated if you make it a habit. Reading particularly strengthens the somatosensory cortex, which triggers physical sensations like pressure and warmth.

Reading can help families bond

Reading does not always have to be a solitary activity. When you are reading out loud to someone, you can enjoy the benefits of reading and engage yourself in meaningful interactions. A recent study further revealed that print books promote deeper connections between parents and children over e-readers and tablets.

Reading can help you establish new connections or find a community

Books are an incredible conversation starter and a fantastic way to find people with common interests. Joining book clubs can also help you make new friends. Books can offer numerous ways to expand your social circle, and you may do it online too. Online platforms like Booktube and Tumblr are home to many book-ish communities and fandoms for you to explore.

Reading conjures creative imagination, boosts curiosity, and changes the way we view the world.