Whether for pleasure, to study or simply to pass the time, reading plays a vital role in every child’s development. From birth all the way through to adulthood, it allows children to explore a range of concepts, situations and cultures, developing their own opinions and ideas as they turn the page.
The Benefits of Reading:
One of the key and continuous benefits of reading is language development. It allows children to see and copy the interesting ways people use language to convey ideas. Babies and toddlers soak up the words, tones and expressions that they hear. As layer upon layer of language is developed through continued reading and practice, teenagers are hopefully provided with the tools to express themselves in an imaginative, critical and detailed manner.
Whilst reading provides children with the means to articulate themselves, it also helps them to build knowledge and understanding of a diverse range of subjects. This vast array of fiction and non-fiction texts and topics allow every reader to find enjoyment and learn something new. It is an exciting journey of exploration which exercises their brains, encouraging them to acquire empathy along the way.
Reading for knowledge is important; reading for pleasure is crucial. It is all too easy for children to pick up a screen and watch a story unfold before their eyes. However, the real fun lies in their imagination and the worlds and characters that can be created in their own minds. This escapism provides a child with a much needed break from their busy day and instead, transports them to a different world full of possibilities.
Encouraging Children to Read:
There are many things that you can do to encourage reading amongst children and provide positive opportunities to do so:
☑ Read = Read aloud to a young child to immerse them in an exciting adventure. If they are older, ask them to read to you – this builds their confidence and pronunciation of vocabulary.
☑ Routine = building some reading time into their day, perhaps before bed, is a positive way to wind down and is something to look forward to.
☑ Book Events = this can be as simple as taking them to the library to look through the books, listening to story time or attending their favourite author’s book signing.
☑ Have Fun = talk about the book, act out the story or dress up as the characters – it’s exciting!
☑ Lead by Example = read and share your own love of books.
One of the most important things you can do is to help choose a suitable book. Whether children are interested in laughing hysterically at Roald Dahl’s ‘The Twits’, gathering historical facts from Terry Deary’s ‘Horrible Histories’ or are engrossed in the magical world of Harry Potter, choosing what to read is personal. Help them to find a topic and format that they are interested in – something that they actually enjoy. As with anything, a love of reading must be nurtured and this can only happen over time.
Top tip: If there are two or three words on a double page that a child does not fully understand, this is a suitable level of challenge for development.