The importance of sharing literature with children

It seems like a no-brainer; reading to children is important because if children don't learn to read, they'll struggle in school and later on, in life. Better readers are equated with successful students, thus, logic dictates that successful students will likely become successful (and) prosperous adults. But how does reading a book like This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (reviewed on this website) lead to adult success? Well, first of all it's fun! If a child learns to equate reading and fun, they're far more likely to become lifelong readers, as well as develops their imaginations. Reading daily for 20 minutes can also help children develop their language acquisition by literally millions of new words. For an excellent visual reference, see the infographic on the left from the Florida Department of Education. As readers develop, they begin to read for various reasons, such as reading from personal perspectives to develop individual identities. Literature offers readers the chance to go somewhere when they have to remain where they are, to live vicariously through characters and their experiences. And as children and young adults begin to make more connections between literature, characters, and the world, they tend to become more empathetic human beings. And that is something our society could definitely use more of.

#textbookreflection #sharinglit