The Pleasure of Reading

Education News from Alleyn's | www.alleyns.org.uk

Read Aloud

Reading aloud to your children is a lovely way to connect with them and spend quality time together. It is also one of the strongest predictors of whether children read for their own pleasure. Children are never too old to be read to and sharing books together can lead to great conversations as well as a better understanding of their likes and dislikes when it comes to reading.

Free Choice

Children are much more likely to read for pleasure if they have free choice over what they read. You may feel strongly about what you would like your child to read, but the most empowering thing to do is to follow their lead and support them in making their own choices.

Wide Choice, Wide Variety

Alleyn’s Junior School librarian, Victoria Edwards explains the importance of reading for pleasure and suggests ways we can encourage our children to read at home. Research has consistently shown that reading for pleasure has a powerful impact on children’s achievement in all areas of school, as well as increasing wellbeing, confidence and empathy.

It is common for children’s enjoyment of reading to go up and down, and the Covid-19 disruptions have had a negative effect overall on children’s reading nationally. As a result, it has never been more important to encourage children’s reading. Here are some tips to help your child develop the habit of reading at home:

Remove Barriers

Do what you can to carve out some time away from screens for reading and chatting about books together. Not being read to, increased screen time and seeing reading as school work rather than something enjoyable have all been shown to be barriers to reading. A great way to encourage screen free time is by example, so ensure your child sees adults taking time away from their screens and reading for pleasure too.

Children’s publishing is currently enjoying a ‘golden age’: with an ever-increasing range of topics as well as a huge variety of fun and engaging formats, there really is a book out there for everyone. Comics and graphic novels in particular have become phenomenally popular in recent years and can be a very accessible way to get children back into reading after a period of reluctance.

Consult The Professionals

Visit your local library to try out new books or ask advice from your local independent bookshop; librarians and booksellers have a wealth of up-todate knowledge and experience to offer. Above all, be guided by your children’s interests, encourage their choices and chat to them about their reading.

“There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.”

Jacqueline Kennedy