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Let's read together at home!

When was the last time you smelled a book? Yes, think about it. Have you ever taken in the beautiful smell from the pages of an old book? If so, you can appreciate the beloved experience shared almost universally by readers; the nostalgic “hints of grass and vanilla” of aged pages. So much so that there is the existence of “old book” scented candles to satisfy your sense of smell.

When I was young, I would often read whilst sitting cross legged on the floor of the local library. After picking up the book with the most appealing cover, I would find the perfect spot with air conditioning and immerse myself in the story. Novels, manga, comics…

…I read them all.

Having read for work and study more recently, it has been a joy to rediscover reading for pleasure. Gripping stories and profound moral messages come to life in the vivid and unique visuals of comics. Fantasy fiction takes your imagination on an adventure to a world with no limits. Auto/biographies provide an insight into the lives and legacies of others. These are just the types of books that I particularly enjoy. Just like films and music, there are different niches and genres of books that can appeal to even the most reluctant reader.

There is something about the ancient tradition of reading that has lasted the passage of time. Even though libraries and bookshops are closed, there are still ways to engage with the world of books, thanks to the wonders of digital technology! The innovation of devices such as Amazon’s Kindle released in 2009, contributed to the rise of eBooks and the resurgence of audiobooks. It is now more accessible than ever to pick up a book, even in lockdown.

We will explore in this blog the benefits that reading can bring for you and/or your children along with ways to access books. Although some students have now gone back to school, the hours are often part-time and most are continuing with some home-schooling. Therefore it is an important time to develop or maintain their reading habits.

Here’s why reading is great for you!

Fiction, in particular literary fiction, can improve your ability to empathise and to understand others. Various studies have shown that reading actually activates the parts of our brain used to process similar activities in our daily lives; our body responding as if we are the protagonist and the characters in our books. You can put yourself in the scenarios of different people and see life from their perspective, especially those that you don’t normally experience. Both reading and social situations in our daily lives require us to actively think about the emotions, the intentions and the interactions of people.

Research has shown that as children learn to read, the process encourages development of other cognitive and literacy skills

An MRI study in 2014 found that a decrease in the sizes of regions in the left brain were associated with better performance in reading skills typically acquired by developing children, such as word reading and fluency.

A study in Spain involving more than 43,000 students showed the more frequently children read books, the better they performed in reading and mathematics tests, especially those who read tales or short novels. The same effect was not seen in other forms of reading materials such as comics, newspapers and magazines.

Good books, fiction or non-fiction, are the accumulation of the author’s lifetime experiences, emotions, ideologies or more. You can gain knowledge from the role models that you aspire to be. The latest Scholastic report found that 74% of children and 88% of parents say that reading fiction and non-fiction is a way to help them understand the world. 4 in 10 of these children agree that there has been a fictional or non-fictional character whose story taught them a life lesson.

Engrossing yourself in the world of books can help relieve the stress of our daily lives, especially in the current climate. More than half of children and parents in the 2019 Scholastic Report agree that a book has helped them/their child through a difficult time.

A study by the University of Sussex in 2009 showed that reading for 6 minutes can reduce stress by up to 68%. Quick Read’s report in 2015 also found that reading was more effective for improving a low mood than other activities such as an outdoor walk, a chat with friends or watching TV. 43% of readers in the same report found that reading helped them get a better night’s sleep and of those, frequent readers reported fewer feelings of stress and depression than non-readers.

Children are more likely to build a good reading habit if they see their parents enjoying reading books.

Research from Scholastic in 2015 showed that 60% of children ages 6 to 11 who read frequently were being read aloud to 5–7 days a week before they entered kindergarten, compared to only 26% with infrequent readers. More than 8 in 10 children from across the age groups said they love(d) being read aloud to at home; with the most common reason being that "it was a special time with parents.”

Children are master imitators who are constantly observing their role models. The joy of reading should be shared. If it’s appropriate, maybe they can join in. It is important for adults to lead by example; together navigating through the wonderful world of books.

My top personal reason for reading, and perhaps the most important one is that it’s entertaining!  It is much easier to commit to books that we enjoy and build a long-lasting reading habit. This can be further incorporated into your social activities. You can join a book club or grab a reading buddy. It can really enhance your reading experience as you engage in discussion about the startling plot twist, thought-provoking themes, the relatability of the protagonist or simply why you loved the book.

Ways to access reading materials

With libraries currently physically closed, there are still many free resources online where you can access the world of books with the click of a mouse.

  • Telford Online Library Catalogue and Libby 
    • offer eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive. All you need is your library card and PIN number. If you prefer using your mobile device, you can use the Libby app
  • Project Gutenberg
    • Online catalogue of over 60,000 eBooks. They come in epub and Kindle eBooks format to be read online and downloaded. Mostly older literature, for which copyright has expired
  • OxfordOWL 
    • Collection of eBooks aimed at children aged 3-11 years old
  • BookTrust HomeTime
    • Online hub of free children books, videos and activities
  • RNIB Library
    • Online library with over 60,000 books in accessible formats for readers with sight loss. Their digital downloads are offered in DAISY CD, USB, braille and giant print
  • Audible Discovery 
    • Collection of audiobooks aimed at children to young adults free to stream during the pandemic, including titles in eight different languages
  • Bounce & Rhymes
    • Nursery rhymes sessions every Tuesday and Thursday for babies and toddlers and their parents and carers. Run by the Telford & Wrekin Libraries Service via Facebook Live
  • Coronavirus - A book for children
    • Free downloadable children’s book on Coronavirus. Created with the help of experts from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. There is also a video version with voiceover
  • British Library Discover Children's Books
    • Range of contents on the history and creations of books
  • The 2020 Read for Empathy Book Collections
    • Collection of recommended books for 4 - 16 years old to help build empathy and understand others.

Summer Reading Challenge 2020

For those with children, you may already be familiar with the Summer Reading Challenge. If not, this year is the perfect time to get them to join! The project takes place online this year, so you can take on the challenge regardless of your location. It is an annual reading campaign led by the Reading Agency with the network of public libraries to inspire children in the UK to read. Children are encouraged to set their own goal of how many books they will read during the summer holidays.

Silly Squad is this year’s theme; any reading that makes them happy. In order to complete the challenge, they will write a review on their profile after finishing each book. Rewards and a certificate are given out at the end. The recommended books can be easily found on their website, sorted by preferences. The website also offers downloadable activities, game and quizzes.

Sarah Griffiths, a graduate from the BA Hons combined degree in Education and English and then the PGCE at the Walsall campus of the University of Wolverhampton, worked as a primary school teacher and is now a children’s author, living in Telford. She has published several books for children and does regular live readings on her Facebook page.

Get creative and start writing

Maybe your children want to get creative and share their own stories with the world? Put their pens to paper and get writing! Or fingers to the keyboard!

The Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust is currently running a short story writing competition to encourage children to write a short story inspired by the Victorian period. Winning entries of the under and over 10s categories will win a book token each. The stories will be recorded to be read as bedtime stories and a selection of the best stories will also be compiled into an e-book. The competition ends on the 1st July 2020.

If they want more ideas to get them motivated or don’t have time to spare, they can try the 10 minute challenges from Authorfy. Each daily challenge is set by a children’s author. They provide prompts as a starting point and useful tips for writing stories.

 

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