I have read to my children their entire lives. In fact, I have been reading to my younger two since before they were born. They had the perk of listening in at Storytime right from the comfort of my belly! It is one of my greatest joys as a parent watching my children find wonder and delight in the pages of stories. Books have been my companions all my life and I love seeing my children embrace literature in the same way that I always have.
When I decided to study English Literature, almost everyone asked if I was hoping to become a teacher. It irked me somewhat for reasons that escape me now. I expect the question may have stung my aspirations of “novel writer” or “award-winning journalist”. Now, as I witness my children experiencing all things literary, I expect there are few jobs that bring greater satisfaction than a teacher who bestows the gift of reading on a student.
I didn’t choose to study books for the sake of a qualification. I studied literature simply for the love of it. My daughter recently read Tilly and the Bookwanderers from Anna James’s Pages and Co. series. I wish I could have bottled her delight each time she came running over excitedly to share a part of the story. I half listened to her relaying the details while I considered this blonder version of my seven-year-old self fully immersed in an imaginary world.
There are many, many benefits to her love of reading. From vocabulary to general knowledge, ability to focus for long periods, feeding her creativity and imagination etc. But perhaps the greatest benefit is simply that books are a channel for her to escape. Let’s face it, the world she is growing up in seems to be in somewhat of a state of decline.
I hate to sound cynical but, having recently read Stolen Focus by Johann Hari, I have to admit, I am feeling less than optimistic about the future of society. Now, more than ever, I am relieved that I have always promoted books over screens. Of course devices have their place. We have definitely had periods of “screen creep” but we always seem to find our way back to books. I have witnessed many times when each of my daughters have gone off quietly to read when a situation has overwhelmed them or they are upset. I know that no matter what they go through in life, they will always have books.
One of the greatest gifts you can impart to your children is to encourage a love of reading in them. In books they will always find the opportunity for escapism from a world that allows for very little of that anymore. And when everything around them is shouting for their attention, may they always find peace, calm and a bit of joy in treasured stories old and new.
