Reading is good for more than just entertainment. Committing part of everyday to reading printed books can make you a smarter, kinder, more relaxed individual. And the positive effects can be felt at any age: Even before they've fully developed their readingskills, kids can benefit from having access to printed materials and being read to on a regular basis. Exposing kids to books, magazines, and more at an early age is a great way to encourage them to be life-long readers, which means they'll reap these benefits for years to come.
读书的好处不仅仅是自娱自乐。把每天一部分时间用于阅读纸质书籍，能让你成为一个更聪明、更善良、更冷静的人。这种积极的影响受益于任何年龄：甚至在孩子们阅读技能完全成熟前，他们就能从阅读纸质书籍、定期阅读中受益。孩子在很小的时候就接触书籍、杂志等能激励他们成为终身读者，这会让他们在未来几年在以下方面受益。

①

READING CAN BOOST INTELLIGENCE.
阅读可以提高智力

People who exhibit strong reading skills early in life grow up to be more intelligent. That was the finding of a study published in 2014 that measured the cognitive development of 1,890 sets of identical twins. When two twins shared the same genes and home environments, early reading skills appeared to be the factor that decided which twin would be better at both verbal tests (like vocabulary) and non-verbal tests (like reasoning tests). Because reading ability is something that's learned, the study authors concluded that more emphasis should be placed on teaching strong reading skills to young children.
早年表现出较强阅读能力的人长大后会更聪明，2014年发表的一项研究通过研究1890对同卵双胞胎的认知发展得出了这样的结论。当两个双胞胎拥有相同的基因和家庭环境时，早期的阅读能力似乎是决定哪一个双胞胎在语言测试(如词汇)和非语言测试(如推理测试)中表现更好的因素。由于阅读能力是后天习得的，研究人员得出结论，应更强调向幼儿传授阅读技能。

②

READING HELPS INCREASE EMPATHY.
阅读有助于增加同理心

Reading books doesn't just make you smarter—it can make you a kinder person as well. According to a study published in 2013, people who consume literary fiction have an easier time sensing and relating to emotions in other people. This effect likely has something to do with the way such books are written: Great literature forces readers to step outside themselves and empathize with the characters they're reading about.
读书不仅能让你更聪明，还能让你成为一个更善良的人。根据2013年发表的一项研究，阅读文学小说的人更容易感知和联系他人的情感。这种影响可能与此类书籍的写作方式有关：伟大的文学作品会使读者走出自我，对他们所阅读的人物产生共鸣。

③

READING CAN LOWER STRESS.
阅读可以缓解压力

Feel stressed at the end of a long day? Cracking open a book is a good way to wind down. A 2009 study found that reading for just 30 minutes has similar stress-reducing effects to doing 30 minutes of yoga.
你会在漫长的一天结束后感到鸭梨山大？打开一本书是一种放松的好方法。2009年的一项研究发现，30分钟的阅读和30分钟的瑜伽有相似的减压效果。

④

READING MAY CHANGE YOUR BRAIN.
阅读可能会改变你的大脑

Even after you put down a book, the effects of reading it are still present in your brain. A 2013 study discovered that when people read fiction with a strong narrative and plot, their brains continue to behave differently hours and even days later. The brains of readers show increased connectivity in the left temporal cortex—the region responsible for language receptivity—even hours after they've stopped reading. This suggests that reading can train the mind and boost neural function through a process that's similar to muscle memory.
即使你放下了书本，阅读的效果仍会存在于你的大脑中。2013年的一项研究发现，当人们阅读具有强烈叙事和情节的小说时，他们的大脑在数小时甚至数天后仍会表现不同。读者的大脑左颞皮质(负责语言接受的区域)即使在他们停止阅读数小时后，仍表现出持续增加的连通性。这表明阅读可以通过类似于肌肉记忆的过程来训练大脑和增强神经功能。

⑤

READING IS AN EXCUSE
TO PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY AT NIGHT.
阅读是晚上收起手机的好理由

If you're too busy to read during the day, consider making snuggling up with a good book as part of your bedtime routine. Reading a physical book before going to bed is a great alternative to scrolling through your phone-something most of us admit to doing. Research has shown that smartphone use at night makes it harder for people to fall asleep and leads to an overall decline in sleep quality. Some experts say reading books, on the other hand, can have relaxing effects, making it the ideal bedtime activity.
如果你白天太忙没时间读书，可以考虑在睡前读一本好书。睡前读一本纸质书相比电子书是一个更好的选择，然而大多数人都爱通过手机阅读电子书。研究表明，晚上使用智能手机会让人们更难入睡，导致整体睡眠质量下降。一些专家说，从另一方面看，读书可以有放松的效果，使其成为理想的睡前活动。

⑥

READING HELPS FAMILIES BOND.
阅读有助于增进家庭关系

Reading doesn't have to be a solitary activity. When parents read out loud to their children, they can pass on the benefits of reading and encourage meaningful interactions. To reap the positive effects of reading to kids, parents should stick to physical picture books. A recent study found that print books, in contrast to tablets and e-readers, can promote the deepest connections between caretakers and children.
阅读并不一定是一项单独的活动。当父母给孩子朗读时，他们可以把阅读的好处传递给孩子，并能鼓励有效的互动。为了使阅读给孩子产生积极影响，父母应该坚持阅读实体绘本。最近一项研究发现，与平板电脑和电子阅读器相比，纸质书能促进父母和孩子之间最深层的联系。

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