What's a Parent's Role?

Take our Authoritative Parenting Test

Find a family therapist near me

Children absorb adult stress, even without understanding events, which impacts their behavior and emotions.

Shared reading helps regulate stress, building emotional security and stronger parent-child bonds.

Stories give kids language for big feelings, supporting emotional awareness and healthy coping.

In recent months, many parents have come into the exam room asking some version of the same question: Could my child be affected by everything going on in the world right now? Sometimes, it’s even more direct: Could my child be affected by what our family is experiencing?

The answer, in many cases, is yes.

Even if they’re too young to follow headlines about political conflict, community tension, or global events, they are paying close attention to something else: the adults around them. Children, even the youngest ones, are quite observant and often use their “spidey senses” to pick up on the mood or emotional state of their parents. Changes in tone, heightened stress, and disruptions to routine rarely go unnoticed. Instead, children absorb these cues, often without the words to make sense of them.

In many cases, that stress shows up indirectly, through sleep disruptions, behavioral changes, increased clinginess, or emotional outbursts that seem disproportionate to the moment. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 1 in 5 children ages 3–17 (21 percent) have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition. And for many, those challenges begin early, as children’s developing brains respond to stress and the environments around them. Repeated stress, even when it’s indirect, can begin to shape how children process emotions, relationships, and safety.

For parents and caregivers, the question is often: How do we help children process what they cannot yet fully understand?

One of the most effective tools is also one of the most accessible: reading together.

A Calm Space in a Busy, Uncertain World

Shared reading creates a natural pause in a child’s day. Sitting down with a trusted adult, hearing a steady voice, and focusing on a story can help a child settle in ways that aren’t always possible during more direct conversations.

This matters because young children rely on supportive relationships to help regulate their emotions. When a caregiver is calm and present, it signals safety. Over time, these repeated interactions help children build their own capacity to manage stress.

There is growing research behind this. In a study of hospitalized children, a single storytelling session was associated with increased oxytocin, a chemical often linked to bonding, and a measurable reduction in cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.

Even outside clinical settings, reading itself has been shown to significantly reduce stress levels, highlighting how quickly the body can shift into a more relaxed state.

Beyond the benefits of this special time for children, there are benefits to parents. Carving out a time for shared reading allows the parent to center themselves and to be present in the moment. Taking a deep breath after a stressful situation and retreating to a comfortable spot on the couch with a child and a book can help parents to exhale as well. In pediatrics, we talk about co-regulation, a process that happens when a parent calms themselves before calming their child with empathy, a steady voice, and responsiveness. In this setting, everyone wins.

Stories Help Children Make Sense of Big Feelings

Children don’t always say, “I feel anxious” or “I’m overwhelmed.” More often, they act those feelings out.

Books can help bridge that gap.

Through stories, children encounter characters who feel nervous, excluded, uncertain, or afraid. Seeing those experiences reflected on the page gives children a way to recognize similar feelings in themselves, without the pressure of having to articulate them directly.

What's a Parent's Role?

Take our Authoritative Parenting Test

Find a family therapist near me

It also creates natural opportunities for conversation. A simple observation, like “That seemed scary for the character,” can open the door to a child sharing their own thoughts. Over time, these interactions help build emotional awareness, a skill strongly associated with healthier coping and long-term mental well-being.

The Role of Connection and Consistency

Consistency also matters. Regular routines, like reading at bedtime or after school, provide predictability in an otherwise unpredictable world. Even a few minutes each day can create a steady moment of connection that children come to rely on.

For many children, repetition is part of that comfort. Returning to the same book again and again offers familiarity and a sense of control, something that can be especially reassuring during times of uncertainty.

A Practical Tool for Families

In pediatric care, we see firsthand how stress affects children and families and how small, consistent actions can make a meaningful difference.

That’s why Reach Out and Read integrates books into routine well-child visits. Families receive a book along with guidance on how to incorporate reading into everyday life, not as an added burden, but as something that fits naturally into existing routines.

Importantly, the value of shared reading is not tied to a specific type of book or a perfectly structured moment. What matters most is the interaction itself. It’s the engagement, attention, and responsiveness.

For younger children, that may look like naming emotions or describing what’s happening in the story. For older children, it may involve making connections, asking questions, or reflecting on a character’s choices.

Supporting Children in Ways That Last

We often think of reading together as a way to support early literacy, and it is. But its impact is even more wide-ranging.

Shared reading helps shape how children understand emotions, relationships, and themselves. It strengthens the bonds that support resilience and provides a steady, reassuring presence during times of stress. If you remember being read to as a child, reflect on how precious those times were and how warm and safe they made you feel. Regardless of the external uncertainty, you felt safe, nurtured, and ready to explore and grow.

In a world where children are navigating increasingly complex experiences, those steady moments matter. They give children something essential: a way to feel supported, to begin making sense of difficult emotions, and to process their experiences in a way that feels manageable, one page at a time.

There was a problem adding your email address. Please try again.

By submitting your information you agree to the Psychology Today Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

© Psychology Today