World Book Day - 2nd March
They say that there is no better way to prepare your child for success than reading aloud with them together. Fill your story times with a variety of books, be patient, consistent and see the beautiful results. Personally, I do believe it is because of my dad patiently reading every book of the Roald Dahl collection to me; with accents, a variety of voices and passion, which is what instilled a love for reading within me. Whether it was the story itself or the different characters acted out by my dad which led me to become an avid bookworm, I won’t quite know but I do suspect it was both the elements combine.
At just a few months of age, an infant can look at the pictures, listen to your voice and point to different objects on the pages. It is this interaction with a variety of images and words which will lead them to learn the importance of language, stimulate imagination and develop listening skills. Once they’re old enough to choose the story of choice, if you find that they are constantly picking up the same book for you to read to them, be patient and maintain your passion. It may be that there are certain characters which they find particularly appealing, or a form of comfort in the story. And once children can read alone, it is still important to read aloud with them. This is the chance you have to stretch the minds of young readers’ and encourage them to improve their own skills.
This year’s World Book Day is on the 4th of March and the new £1 books have been revealed - back in the last week of September of 2020. The 12 brand new titles have been written especially for world book day; all available to buy with the £1 book tokens which are distributed around the day itself. Titles last year included Alex Rider - Undercover by Anthony Horowitz, The Case of the Drowned Pearl by Robin Stevens and Bing’s Squishy Story by Ted Dewan.
Although the day itself is centred around young people, it is important to remember the importance of reading as young teens and adults. Studies have shown that those who read for pleasure have higher levels of self-esteem and a greater ability to cope with difficult situations. It has also been associated with better sleep patterns and an increase in greater life satisfaction by 20%.
Though studies discuss reading ‘for pleasure’ that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to read a fantasy novel with unnatural elements and superficial characters. It means reading a book which is of interest to you, which potentially inspires you, and from which you can gain something from. The knowledge that you gain over your lifetime is cumulative and grows exponentially. With a strong knowledge base, it becomes easier to learn new things and solve more complex problems.
A common example is reading into business, management or property. Though the reading may have began from a place of general interest, it has since led many people to become landlords to multiple properties or CEO’s of a variety of businesses. Whatever it is that you’re reading about, make sure that it has some degree of interest to you - you don’t know where it can lead you in the future.
Overall, however you choose to celebrate World Book Day, make sure to explore your own interests and passions. Read books knowing you are stimulating your brain, improving memory, expanding vocabulary (unless you’re reading to your 2 year old sibling) and enhancing your analytical thinking skills.
References: 1. https://www.readingrockets.org/article/reading-your-child