Why books are great to support Your Child’s healthy mind.
Research and experience tell us how reading can make a huge difference to a child’s educational performance but books also offer a great way to support our children’s mental health. In 2008 The National Literacy Trust found that children who enjoy reading and literacy are three times more time likely to have better mental health than children who do not enjoy literacy.
Stories can transport us to magical places away from the stresses of daily life and can often teach our children emotional intelligence. As a teacher and a Mum, and a teacher, I am a huge advocate of using books to teach children and begin discussions about a huge range of topics and books can offer a lovely way to start conversations about complex situations. As a teacher and a Mum, I am a huge advocate of using books to teach children about a huge range of topics. Books can offer a lovely way to start conversations about complex situations.
So here are our top 5 reasons why books are a wonderful way to support a child’s mental health:
1. Through a book, a child can explore and learn about their own emotions by observing how the characters experience them. There are some wonderful picture books which can teach children how emotions may feel, how to identify them and normalise all those emotions we feel on a daily basis. Teaching children from a young age these skills and supporting them to develop coping strategies will provide them with a strong emotional foundation which will increase self-confidence and boost self-esteem.
Our My Healthy Minds box is perfect for teaching children how to recognise and then label those emotions. By creating the Emotions Chart as a family you are normalising that we all sometimes feel sad or angry and that is ok.
Sometimes: A Book of Feelings by Stephanie Stansbie, The Colour Monster by Anna Llenas, The Worrysaurus by Rachel Bright, My Many Coloured Days by Dr Seuss and The Problem with Problems by Rachel Rooney are wonderful books to support conversations about emotional intelligence.
2. Books enable children to see the world through other people’s eyes and better understand the world around them. Books can transport our children into different characters and this enables them to experience and understand how that character is feeling.
Through our Rainbows box, we travel with our main character as she overcomes her sadness and realises that better days are never far away!
Through books, we can experience different genders, ethnicity, culture and age. This plays a huge role in developing understanding and empathy for others.
3. Life can be messy and unpredictable and stories can help children process difficult situations that they are experiencing themselves. Reading about characters that are going through similar situations can help them understand that they aren’t alone with those feelings and can provide them with guidance based on how others have worked through challenges. Rain Before Rainbows by Smriti Halls is a beautiful picture book which children will revisit as they come across difficulties and need reminding that with courage and good friends, good times are never far away.
4. Books broaden and grow a child’s vocabulary, which enables them to better communicate how they are feeling. The Journal of Developmental and Behaviour Paediatrics by Jessica Logan A. R. PhD found that if you read one story a day to your child, they will have heard 290,000 more words than a peer who isn’t read to regularly. Read five stories a day and your child will have heard 1.4 million words than a peer who isn’t read to regularly.
Therefore, the more you read and talk to your children, the better equipped they will be to express through speech or by writing their feelings down how they are feeling.
5. Books are a wonderful way for us all to escape from a stressful day and the same is true for our children. After a full day at school or nursery, nothing is more soothing than curling up with a loved one to read a good book.
A study which was commissioned by Galaxy Chocolate through The University of Sussex found that reading for just 6 minutes can reduce stress more effectively than listening to music, going for a walk or having a cup of tea. So, by reading with your child daily not only are you reducing any possible anxiety your child may be experiencing but you are also working on your own mental health.
A book doesn’t need to be focused on emotions for it to benefit a child’s mental health. A book full of silliness, which has a child laughing with someone they love, is sometimes exactly what they need after a long day. The Dragonsitter, The Elephant Detectives and Press Start are all firm after-school favourites with our children after a tricky day.
At Little Hands Learning we understand the importance of stories for our children. But we also understand how daunting it is to talk about these complex topics with your child. Therefore, when we send a box with a mental health focus, we will always send activities and conversation starters that will support you and encourage your child to share. Please do get in touch if you have any questions on how to support your child’s mental health through books.