Are
there really any negative aspects of being a bookworm? I think we all know the
answer to that, I think not! Have you ever heard of anyone telling children
that they should limit their reading time, I think not!
Have
you ever heard of anyone saying that reading can cause digital eye
strain? I have not, but I have heard these things said about children who
spend too much of their time using technology.
In
buying a book, there are no ongoing or hidden charges like there are in toys
requiring batteries, gaming devices/consoles needing to be recharged, and extra
costs associated with buying add-ons or in-app purchases for apps or games.
Please don’t get me wrong here, I am not totally opposed to technology, after
all, my own children love it! But what I am suggesting is that children should
be encouraged to spend more time reading books rather than on using electronic
devices and not to be oblivious to, or forget about, the enormous benefits
associated with reading books.
Let’s
turn our attention back to a typical story book - what you see is what you get
– a beautiful book that can be treasured and passed on from generation to
generation.
The
benefits of reading a good book are many. Reading actually takes children on an
exciting journey in their imagination and sparks creativity simultaneously.
Reading books improves literacy skills, enhances and extends children’s
vocabulary, and improves grammar usage.
Reading
books engages the reader, so much so, that it draws their attention away from
the current world in which we live and transports the reader to another place,
encouraging readers to experience and explore the problems, joys and sorrows of
the characters in the stories that they are reading about. Reading story books
can help children forget about their own current problems that they may be
experiencing in their own lives.
By identifying with the characters in books,
children are being given an insight into how these characters learn to deal
with problems and the strategies used to help overcome the difficult situations
in which the characters themselves are often faced with.
By
reading books, we are actually acquiring knowledge and gaining a greater
understanding of the world around us. This acquisition of knowledge is the
greatest gift that we can ever bestow on our children.
Admittedly, sometimes
it’s difficult to find the time to sit down and read books to our children;
after all, we all lead such busy lives. But as parents, by making a conscious
effort to set aside some time every day, no matter how small, your children
will be thanking you for it later. Not only will they be acquiring knowledge,
improving their grammar, vocabulary and literacy skills, but you will be
responsible for fostering a love of reading and of books in your children which
will greatly benefit them in the future, and for many years to come.
Lydia Di Giulio is a children's author at The Flying Desk. She's published five books for children and is currently working on her sixth. You can connect with Lydia via her Twitter account @lydiadigiulio
