| During National Storytelling Week Warwickshire Schools Library Service (WSLS) is celebrating the joy of reading and highlighting how stories can inspire children and young people.
Reading for pleasure has many benefits – it helps children develop empathy, builds connections with others, boosts wellbeing, and even improves academic success. Stories allow young readers to step into different worlds, see life from other perspectives, and recognise both the similarities and differences that make us unique.
However, fewer children are choosing to read for fun. A recent report from the National Literacy Trust found that the number of children and young people who enjoy reading and do so daily in their free time is continuing to fall. There are many reasons for this, including an increase in screen time, less frequent shared reading at home, and the misconception that reading for pleasure is the same as school literacy work. But when reading is fun, children naturally want to do more of it – and that’s when the magic happens! |