THE CONTRIBUTION OF READING TO THE NEUROPSYCHOMOTOR DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN FROM THE FETAL STAGE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD: A MEDICAL AND PEDAGOGICAL REVIEW

Abstract

This article reviews scientific evidence highlighting the importance of reading from the gestational period to early childhood as an essential stimulus for neuropsychomotor development. Reading aloud during pregnancy provides auditory stimuli that promote the maturation of the fetus's central nervous system, contributing to the development of skills such as language, attention, and memory. In early childhood, the practice of shared reading continues to play a fundamental role, stimulating areas of the brain related to cognition, language, and socioemotional development. The text also discusses the neuroscientific basis of reading and its relationship with brain plasticity, highlighting the benefits of early interventions and public policies aimed at encouraging reading. Reading, therefore, in addition to promoting cognitive and emotional development, is a therapeutic and health promotion tool, contributing to the child's overall development.