WORLD BOOK DAY 2021
UNESCO have dedicated World Book Day as a celebration of reading, authors, illustrators and books. Launched in 1995, World Book Day has brought the pleasure of reading to families in over 100 countries across the world. Many schools are celebrating World Book Day on 5th March this year and supporting their students to introduce more reading into their lives.
World Book Day is a charity on a mission to help change children’s lives by making reading together and reading for pleasure a habit for life.”
World Book Day https://www.worldbookday.com/
The best thing about reading is you can do it anywhere at any time! Reading has been a positive outlet to so many during the global pandemic and a source of comfort and strength for those in isolation or lockdown.
THE POWER OF BOOKS
When I was a student studying Psychological Therapies at University, I came across an approach called Bibliotherapy. This therapy approach aims to support people through emotional issues or changes in their lives, through reading books. I’m a mental health professional and a bookworm so I loved the idea! I now recommend the use of books when families are struggling with some big issues or changes.
The idea of using books as a tool for wellbeing isn’t a new one. It is a practice which has been documented since the Ancient Greeks. Libraries and book collections were thought to be healing places for the soul.
Books and stories hold power for us. We can identify with characters, work through challenging issues, practice empathy and see another’s perspective. Books can also provide an escape from the ‘real world’; a refuge or space where you can feel calm, release your emotions without attachment or simply switch your focus and drown out your own thoughts.
5 Benefits of reading to your child
It is never too soon to start reading to your child. Babies in utero can hear their parent’s voice and are calmed by it. Infants begin to associate story time with relaxation if it is scheduled into their routine and toddlers learn so much about language, communication and the world around them from stories and books. Here are five top advantages in reading to your child:
- Bonding time. From infancy, through toddlerhood and beyond, sharing stories is a way you can get that precious one to one time. Turn phones and distractions off and be present in the moment with your child.
- Language Development. The more children are exposed to language, the more their comprehension and communication skills develop. Reading books to young children has been found to increase their literacy skills later in life and the more they are exposed to stories, the more their language development is nourished. 1
- Increased Wellbeing. Children who like reading and engage with literacy are three times more likely to have high levels of wellbeing than their peers who engage least. This is based on a 2018 study by the National Literacy Trust and echoes other similar studies in the field. 2
- Introducing Empathy and Feelings. Books are great for starting conversations with even your tiny toddler. Asking questions such as ‘why is bear sad?’ or ‘what is owl feeling?’ starts conversations about feelings and emotions and allows them to practice their empathy skills in a safe environment.
- Building Confidence. There’s a reason why children like the same book to be read to them over and over. They gain mastery over the story. They are able to predict what happens next, become familiar with the language and even finish parts of it off. This builds their self esteem and confidence as they navigate a world that can feel so unpredictable at times.
5 ways reading aloud benefits you
- It Slows You Down. To read a book you need to be settled. Reading aloud requires you to slow down, pause, breathe and begin to unwind.
- You Tune In. It’s a perfect way to spend precious time with your child. Reading time can open up discussions about their experiences or how they are feeling. It gives you an opportunity to tune into your family.
- It Focuses Attention. Have you ever been reading instructions or something that was difficult and to understand it better, you read it out loud? That’s because reading aloud sharpens our concentration and helps us to focus on the moment without the ‘background noise’ of our thoughts. It’s a way to be more mindful.
- You are Transported. Children’s books are often populated by mythical characters, adventures and strange lands. As busy adults, we need that imagination in our life! So let yourself be transported to a different world, if only for a few short pages.
- You are a Great Parent. It’s easy to feel guilty or as though we aren’t doing enough for our children but reading to your child is one of the best investments you can make. Evidence shows that the language, illustrations and stories stimulates networks in the child’s brain which supports their cognitive development.
So give you and your child a brain-boost this week.
We hope you get lost in a good book!
References:
Clark, C & Teravainen- Goff, A. 2018. Mental Wellbeing, Reading and Writing: How children and young people’s mental wellbeing is related to their reading and writing experiences. National Literacy Trust Research Report. Dickinson, D. et.al. 2012. How reading books fosters language development around the world. Child Development Research. You can find out more about Bibliotherapy here: http://www.relit.org.uk/ and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/bibliotherapy