Reading for Pleasure

Child reading a book for pleasure to a therapy dog

What are the benefits?

Research shows that children who read for pleasure have a larger vocabulary and there is a positive relationship to higher levels of mental well-being. It is also more important for educational success than a families socio-economic status.

QUOTE:

'Pleasure can't be taught it must be shared.'

Frank Cottrell-Boyce


How to encourage reading for pleasure at home:

  • Be a reading role model and read in front of your children from a book, newspaper, iPhone or tablet.
  • Allow children to chose which reading material they like whether it is comics, graphic novels, magazines, foreign language books, eBooks or sports articles.
  • Talk about what you and they read and ask if their friends have any recommendations for good books.
  • Visit your local library to chose books on a regular basis.
  • Read to your child and enjoy the ritual.

My child struggles to read books:

Remember that listening to stories either through being read to or listening to audio books will have the same language benefits and develop vocabulary and understanding, but being motivated is the key to developing something that people with dyslexia find difficult.

How can you encourage reading for pleasure at school:

  • Read to pupils regularly and reflect on a variety of content.
  • Engage people from the wider community to come and talk about their favourite book.
  • Have eBooks available.
  • Don't forget to have reading activities that are not just focused on a comprehension task for tests.


Independent Publishers of children's books.