My journey into reading & why I think all children should read!

There’s one thing that you probably already know about me and that’s that I love books. If you learn absolutely nothing else about me during your time on my blog that’s absolutely fine and dandy but do know that books and reading will always be my one true love. Today I’m partnering up with Rossall School for this post and sharing my story on how I got into reading and some reasons why I think it’s super important for children to read. Books are complete magic and the words within the pages are so powerful. Books are the reason I started this blog, which got me out of a really dark, dank place in my life. They’re not only my true love, they’re my savior too. 

So my Mum is the reason I love books as much as I do now because she’s always loved reading too. I can’t remember a time seeing her without a book on the go. From a young age, she would read to me, mostly during the nights when I would sleep in her bed because my Dad was working nights. I was fairly young when Harry Potter came out so I remember her reading the first few to me, along with a few Narnia books among others!

I always read when I was at school too and during the Summer holidays, I was a frequent library-goer! I don’t know if anyone in the UK remembers this (or whether they still do them) but they had library reading challenges throughout the Summer holidays where everyone’s names were on a chart on the wall of the library and you moved up a “section” the more books you read. You got stickers and prizes and things, the more you read.

Obviously I took part every single year and always made it straight to the top. I’m Hermione Granger and… you are?

This was the kind of time where I was obsessed with Jacqueline Wilson books but I mean what young 90’s girl wasn’t? Sleepovers was one of my favourites and I’d honestly love to read loads of her books again now to bring back the memories! I was also weirdly obsessed with a series called Sheltie the Shetland Pony. There were hundreds of those damn books and I made it my mission to have every single one. Yet I had zero interest in ponies or horses. Weird.

My love for reading grew with me, which brings me to “the age of Twilight” which completely consumed me and my friends in year 8 or 9 (I can’t quite remember) and I vividly remember reading the whole of Breaking Dawn whilst on holiday in Tenerife. I’ve been through a lot of book “phases”; Twilight, 50 Shades, John Green, Chic-lit and now Thriller (and all the sub-genres) are my favourite books which I always reach for bar the odd few.

The thing is with books is that they’re everlasting and they’ll never get boring or go out of style. I’ve read so many genres and there are so many exciting plot-lines to enjoy. When you feel like you’ve had a enough of a particular genre then there’s plenty more to chose from and plenty new authors to discover. Books will always be there to comfort you in the good and the bad. And when I have kids, I’ll do everything I can to try and help them discover the magic of books like I did!

Reasons why I think children should read:

Bonding activity

There’s no doubt that reading as a child is a fantastic bonding activity. I have so many memories of my Mum reading to me when I was little which I’m sure I’ll always cherish. Reading is such an accessible activity which enables children to bond with parents, siblings, friends and teachers.

Opens your imagination

Obviously this doesn’t only apply to children and children’s book but books in general open your imagination from a young age and continue prying it open all the way until adulthood! I think once that seed is sown as a child, you’ll always have that imagination that books bring.

Safe and rewarding hobby

Reading is the safest hobby you can have (apart from paper cuts, ouch!) and I’m by no means saying that kids need to spend their years wrapped up in bubble wrap but I think that reading can be seen as that safe “go to”, maybe when other things aren’t going so well. That’s definitely the case in adulthood. It’s also super rewarding when you finish reading a book as a child, I remember feelings on top of the world whenever I turned the last page!

Helps with literacy

Reading as an outside hobby can help massively with literacy and only enhances a child’s literacy skills. Again, even well into adulthood, I find reading more and more books helps with my vocabulary! That doesn’t stop when you grow up.

Helps you figure out what you like

Books and reading is a great foundation for figuring out what sort of things you like. Adventure? Sci-fi? Family dramas? Which can transcend into so many different areas of your life!

I’d love to hear about your experiences with reading as a child. What were your favourite books to read as a kid? If you have kids yourself, what books do they enjoy? Have you always encouraged them to read? Who got YOU into reading?

* Thank you to Rossall School for sponsoring this post. I think children’s education is so incredibly important, not just books and reading but all subjects and interests. I don’t have children myself but I know if/when I do I will take a keen interest in their education and learning.