Children’s Book Week is an international annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.
Mental health is a growing concern for children today. Anxiety and depression is something which is very prevalent in our current climate.
10% of children have a diagnosable mental health condition – that’s roughly three in every classroom.
Being able to read and write well means that children can make sense of how they’re feeling, express their thoughts and emotions, and seek support.
It can also help to increase their self-confidence and self-awareness, and foster an interest in learning and understanding other points of view.
The link between literacy and mental wellbeing is particularly strong in primary school children aged eight to 11.
The National Literacy Trust’s research showed that as children move on to secondary school, their enjoyment of reading starts to diminish – and that coincides with a downward trend in their mental health.
Useful resource – TED Talks video: Why reading matters -//lnkd.in/dYGqBSe
