If we want our children to thrive, teaching them to read is not enough – they must learn to enjoy it
As you know reading has been a real focus for us at St Joseph's. There is much research to demonstrate just how crucial reading for pleasure is to children’s future mental health and economic success.
“Why does this matter? While it is undeniable that being able to read confidently is an essential life skill, the importance of reading just for pleasure should not be underestimated. Study after study has shown how reading for pleasure is vital for academic success, mental health and even later economic success. The emphasis here is on reading for pleasure: simply being able to read does not confer the same benefits as actually enjoying it.
Getting the right book into the right child’s hands at the right time is the key. “
This can be a challenge, especially when TV, films and social media are all so readily available. It's about trying to work with your child's interests, when trying to find a book that will hopefully engage them.
Due to recent restrictions, we have been unable to carry out all the reading/book events that we had planned for this year in the way we would have liked. We will however, make sure that these are all added into next year's diary.
In the meantime, each week our staff will be writing a book recommendation on the newsletter. Please share these with your child, hopefully they will spark an interest !
