The Importance of Reading

There’s no denying it reading is an important skill. It helps with language development; social development – helping us to empathise with others/or learn to understand them better, gives us something to discuss with each other, put things into perspective, to look at things from a different angle; helps us to learn moral messages; gives us the ability to learn new things, provides information of what is happening in the World around us; helps us to remember (lists, important dates, appointments); help us find our way (directions); keep us thinking, and questioning (what may happen at the end of the story); gives us a way to relax and unwind from the daily worries and encourages lifelong learning too.

reading

Sometimes I do find it hard to fit in all the reading with 3 primary school aged children. We make sure the youngest always has a bedtime story, the next one up reads to us at bedtime, and our 9 year old reads either to himself or whilst I’m washing up/ironing (we do sit down and listen too, but  this is what we do when we are really busy) and the oldest we really struggle so he reads alone (he is 17 this year).

So anyway to encourage young readers I thought I would Giveaway this fantastic Hello Kitty and Friends – The Friendship Club donated by Harper Collins at BritmumsLive.

hello_kitty

One of my favourite books growing up was most definitely Winnie-the-Pooh so I was delighted to hear that there was now a Winnie-the-Pooh “Classic Pooh” app of my favourite stories, which meant my youngest could enjoy the tales of Pooh Bear without me having to worry about him damaging such a treasured book. He loved the control of being able to decide which page he was on, swiping backwards and forwards, and I liked the fact that the story could be read to him (by Rufus Jones) – especially as he does like the same thing over and over and over again. Using the iPad is also good to help my son develop the muscles in his hand – at the moment there is concern that it is a bit floppy and he cannot hold things properly.

This app is free to download too! Further available is the extra ‘The World of Winnie-the-Pooh’ which offers essential background to the stories  for £2.49.

classic_pooh

The Write to Read app (£4.99 on iTunes) I originally thought would be just perfect for my 5 year old. Since being in his Reception year at school his love of reading has rocketed. He reads absolutely everything he can find. This app allows him to learn to write, and spell, the words as it sounds out what is typed. But what I really loved about it was the fact that you can create your own story using your own photos. This is particularly useful for my youngest son with special needs, as he is a visual learner, and this would be ideal to write tailor-made social stories for him, that make the most sense, as we can use photos from his environment. He is moving from pre-school to Reception this year so I am intending to use this app a lot to prepare him.

create_your_own_social_stories

For my almost 10 year old, I feel that reading is one of the most important things he can do to prepare himself for his upcoming examinations – first his 11+ and then his SATs. So when he discovered that he would be allowed to use technology on a week night he was delighted to do some reading – you see my boys are only allowed on computers/tablets etc at weekends normally, unless they’ve done something amazing. So he’s happy to be able to borrow my iPad and I’m happy he’s reading. One of the eBooks appropriate for his age is Will Solvit  – and my son is really enjoying it and actually ended up going to bed late! The series is about a 10 year old boy who is destined to be an adventurer. The first book sees him travelling back in time to when there were dinosaurs (always a hit in our house). There are jokes, facts, great illustrations and moral messages, including his friendship with Zoe. For those of you who prefer good old fashioned books then they are also available in paperback from Parragon books.

e-reading

And my most favourite find of late is Sensory Dinosaurs by Jill Christmas (available from Speechmark Publishing at £32.99). Jill has extremely kindly let me share the information from this book so please do look out for future posts. This is a must have tool for any child who is struggling in school – with their condition is diagnosed or not; covering sensory issues, developmental coordination disorder, dyspraxia/proprioception, Asperger’s syndrome, Self-esteem issues, joint hypermobility, Dyslexia, and balance difficulties. Each one has a story about a dinosaur, who starts off sad, it is explained why it is that they are sad (eg too much light and noise) and what happens to help them, and then you see them happy. The book is packed with tips on how to help, and dinosaurs to colour. The pages are easily photocopy-able in order that parents/carers and schools can share the information and be on the same page with helping the child with these conditions. This book is particularly useful for us, as it is known that children are more easy to access help/learn easier, if t is linked to something they are interested in – and dinosaurs are definitely a big hit here.

sensory_dinosaurs

Disclosure: I received the Hello Kitty and Friends book, a Winnie-the-Pooh gift set; The Write to Read App; A Will Solve it Book; and the Sensory Dinosaurs book in order to review these products. All opinions are my own.

114 thoughts on “The Importance of Reading”

  1. There’s some great advice in there, thanks. My daughter got the Will Solve it paperback and is devouring it-they’re good fun aren’t they. Just been checking out the Winnie the Pooh app too, looks lovely.

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  2. I prefer paper books – I like to turn the pages manually and love taking the kids to the library. I also love to read books to my children – allowing them to hold the book and turn the pages too.

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  3. I love paper books- I love that my daughter can turn the pages and point at the pictures without pages turning and what not on a ereader. I think it is so important to not have everything technological as much as I love it, some things should be kept.

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  4. I prefer a paper book, love reading till I fall asleep and with a paper book I don’t have to worry that it might fall off the bed!

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  5. Prefer paper books, love the feel and smell of books. I can’t go near a book shop without popping in for a look & adore my local library:)

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  6. paper books, has I think its more intresting and with the eletonic ones you can get faults ect. so it has to be paper books xx

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  7. paper book as i like to have something in my hand, the writing on ebooks is all one continous page i don’t really liek that

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  8. Paper book as i don’t find its the same reading an electronic book as you can’t hold the paper book in your hands and with children i find they enjoy paper books more.

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  9. I prefer paper – it doesn’t break if you drop it and the battery won’t die just when you get to the good bits!

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  10. The write to read app sounds great for my 5 yr old as he has such an imagination and loves reading/writing. I will definitely be looking for that, thanks

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  11. i dont mind either, some i like to have and kepp, the e-books are good for ones you only want to read once

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  12. I love the way you write, what a great post. Sounds like you’ve all been busy beans! We enjoy paper books too but I really liked the Winnie-the-Pooh app 🙂

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  13. Paper books are lovely, but out of sheer practicalty I am a convert to e-books. I simply ran out of space for all my paper books, and I love the fact I can carry 400 books to work each day!

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  14. worst thing I can do to my son is not let him read to me at night! he is 6.5 and mad on beast quest… 9 yo just reads to herself mostly..

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  15. Paper books – I’m old fashioned and I love books for themselves as well as the story. Some books are works of art.

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  16. i prefer paper books …. children dont seem to show the same enthusiasm with electronic books as we did with paper books

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  17. I prefer a proper book (paper book) … I wouldnt be able to really take an electronic book seriously,Also i like to feel a book and also the smell lol 🙂

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  18. I prefer paper books, my son seems to enjoy them more. I love reading him stories and don’t just limit it to bedtime either, they’re a good way to bond and for him to learn at the same time 🙂 x

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  19. paper books ! for sure ! ….. i read until i fall asleep so my bookends up on the floor where it falls ……

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  20. Definitely electronic. I got a tablet for Christmas and have probably read more in the last few months than in the last few years. It’s just so easy to carry around with you, and I can carry on reading in bed with the light out so I don’t disturb my wife.

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  21. I was always convinced I would only ever read real books, the feel of reading one and joy of having them on the shelves had me convinced then I was given a kindle and it is so good to have the world of literature at my finger tips anywhere in the world, so much easier, so I am torn.

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  22. I prefer the paper books as their is so much more enjoyment in actually turning the page, the smell of a book and just picking up your book and seeing how far your into it by how deep in your bookmark is.

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  23. A paper book. I love the smell of paper books which adds to the experience of reading. Also they never run out of battery!

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  24. I prefer paper books,as to me they are far more convienient,and I love looking at all my books on my bookshelves

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  25. I like electronic, only because the only chance I get to read is in bed and I find it so much easier 🙂

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  26. Paper, love holding real book in my hands and turning real pages. Oh, and I love to put pretty postcards to mark page I’m reading :}

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  27. I think they both have their advantages but I’d say a real book because there’s so much more choice and leaving a second-hand book costing 20p on a bus is rather different to leaving a £80 ereader

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  28. Book, i love the feel and the smell. Also I will only buy the original covers not ‘movie covers’ and I love having all them in hardback. I don’t collect anything but books! I LOVE THEM!

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  29. For me it’s ebooks – just so much easier & great to have all your books at hand. I do miss the feel & smell of a book – it’s some what more of an accomplishment when you read a physical book.
    For children I prefer physical picture books although they’re not the best at looking after them.

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  30. i much prefer a proper book, because im not very good with technology, and i love to spend ages browsing in bookshops

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  31. I don’t actually have a Kindle or e-reader, I would love one for books that I’d probably only want to read once and then would clutter up the place but for my favourite books I think I prefer to have a physical copy as I like the feel & smell of the pages and to look at an actual cover! 🙂

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  32. Paper book I like to flick through the pages and sometimes cheat by reading the last pages before the ending.

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  33. I prefer paper, you cant beat reading a book the old fashioned way, but also love my Nook, i can take far more books away to read on holiday!!! 😉

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