I am buzzing after visiting several schools last week and meeting many enthusiastic readers and budding authors to discuss the countless benefits of reading and creating story. I am happy to report a love for reading and writing is alive and well among our young people.
There is no doubt, however, that we all collectively must instil a love for books and reading at an early age in the younger generation. The technological age, as well as television and film, are having a huge impact on how our young people are receiving and assimilating information. However, most of the children I met on my travels admitted that books are still the best source of information and a story in a book is much better than the film. This train of thought allowed me to talk about the power of imagination and the countless benefits to reading such as improving knowledge, vocabulary, focus, concentration, increases empathy, a different perspective and promotes happy, healthy minds. We talked about how fiction can play a significant role in helping address issues that children and young folk are dealing with in their day-to-day lives, from bullying to drugs to transgender issues and social exclusion.
After playing a little ‘reading’ game with the classes, the work of Charles Dickens came out on top and shone as a favourite. “Make them laugh, make them cry, make them wait,” was Dickens’s motto and his method. It sure still works for our young readers to this day. I shared a little bit about Dicken’s life and how he overthrew adversity to write and create when he had very little of anything. The take-home message was the power to create comes from within, and our young readers are our future writers that are very much needed to create story and to enhance not only young lives but all our lives. The powerful transportive effect of a story cannot be underestimated so pick up a book anytime, anywhere for a little therapy.
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