Early Childhood Education (ECE) NOCTI Practice Exam

Why is listening to stories beneficial for infants and toddlers?

1. It helps them sit still

2. It promotes sound recognition and language skills

3. It teaches them to read

4. It gives parents time to relax

The correct answer is: It promotes sound recognition and language skills

Listening to stories is particularly beneficial for infants and toddlers because it promotes sound recognition and language skills. At this stage of development, children are rapidly acquiring language and learning to recognize different sounds. Hearing stories introduces them to a variety of words, rhythms, and patterns of speech, which enriches their vocabulary and comprehension. Moreover, engaging with stories can stimulate their imagination and enhance their ability to understand narrative structures, which are essential for effective communication later in life. This kind of auditory experience also supports their cognitive development by helping them make connections between words and their meanings, ultimately laying a strong foundation for later reading skills. While sitting still can be a desirable behavior during storytime, the primary benefit lies in the developmental aspects of language and sound recognition. Though stories may not directly teach reading skills, they foster a love for books and narratives that can ignite a child's interest in reading as they grow older. The option about providing parents with time to relax does not focus on the developmental gains for the child, which is critical in early childhood education.