Book reading for children

Children’s Book Week helps to inspire imagination, adventure and a thirst for more, written knowledge.

Do you read to or with your child / grandchild regularly? This shared activity makes a big differenceto their development and literacy.

Whilst I was at school I would walk over to the junior school once a week (to get swamped by keen children!) to listen to the 7 year olds read. They had mixed abilities but most had already got good literacy levels. What was very noticeable though was how a child could improve massively in just a term – and with only 10 minutes max extra 1-2-1 help a week!

They positively glowed with the improvements that they gained in their reading skills. It was a win-win for all concerned. If you are interested in doing something similar, I urge you to get creative and see what opportunities you can create for children – in their schools, church Sunday school or other activities.

This improvement in spoken reading also had other benefits:

• confidence

• better understanding

• better phonation

• clearer speech

• increased use of words

• increased vocabulary

• better English

• higher test results e.g. spelling tests

• better mathematics results!

• ease in communication

• more socialisation with other children

It was fun to visit the class and contribute to their learning each week. I had the time – it was a study period, and gained a few years of young friends if they saw me!

So, please – if YOU can spare a few minutes regularly, you have no idea what a long term difference it can make to a child or family. Thank you.

What are you reading at the moment? Pop in the comments.

#bookweek #reading #literacy #readingskills #patience #learning #development #listentoachild

© Gayle Palmer / Living Elements Clinic Nov 2023