< Back to Blog

Headteacher's blog: Why enjoyment in reading helps children to thrive

Lisa Brown recentEverything today is available 24/7; from information at our fingertips, to online shopping and takeaway delivery. In a world of so much instant gratification, the stamina for reading intricate and challenging stories that unfold gradually and draw you in, is waning. We need to find ways to encourage our children to immerse themselves in quality story-telling, where time and effort is invested to reap the benefits. As adult readers, I am sure there are books you had to persevere with and were glad that you did. I recall being in a supermarket queue buying ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, I was advised by another shopper to stick with it until page 100. I’m glad I did!

We all know that reading is a key lifeskill. It can also be an emotional crutch, and teaches us about growing up, our emotions and is therefore a support for personal wellbeing. Reading for pleasure takes you into another world, giving you a break from the pressures and reality around you. There is nothing better than letting yourself be drawn into an imaginary world where you live with the characters, feel their emotions and can’t wait to read on. Author Cressida Cowell, currently Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, points out that enjoying books, not just reading them, is vital for academic success, mental health and even later economic success. So, please read with your children, read yourselves too and enjoy the wonderful world of literature out there.

From the very start, children who enjoy sharing books daily with their parents, even as babies, develop warm relationships and gain positive attention. They are exposed to a wide vocabulary and associate reading with a good feeling. Reading within the home is just as important as in school, so what can parents do to help?

They can join and support local libraries, borrowing books and attending story sessions with their children. Another top tip is ‘model reading’ - sitting alongside your children, reading your own book and talking about the story you are reading. If it is the usual thing to do in your house, your children will see it as normal. Older juniors often don’t want to read with their parents, seeing themselves as too old. However, reading with your children into their teens and beyond has enormous value. Listening to two sides of a page before leaving your child to read independently is a good compromise. Alternatively, reading the same book at the same time or afterwards can lead to interesting discussions about inference and plot development. 

Despite very busy schedules, we should always find time for books; books that challenge but others just for the fun of it! Good books are infectious, so get out there and catch the bug!

To find out more about life in Redmaids' High Junior School join us for an open event.

Book a visit

 
Date Posted: 28 November, 2019

Articles for: Junior

Headteacher's blog: Exploring female leads in children's literature

Headteacher's blog: Exploring female leads in children's literature

Date Posted: 27 March, 2024
READ MORE
Headteacher's blog: Top tips for settling in to school

Headteacher's blog: Top tips for settling in to school

Date Posted: 3 August, 2022
By Mrs L Brown, Redmaids' High Junior School Headteacher The Summer break is an excellent opportunity to recharge,...
READ MORE
Headteacher's blog: Don’t forget to have fun!  | Redmaids' High School

Headteacher's blog: Don’t forget to have fun!  | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 20 October, 2020
READ MORE
Headteacher's blog: A Vous La France!

Headteacher's blog: A Vous La France!

Date Posted: 16 October, 2023
READ MORE
Headteacher's blog: Why it all starts here in Year 3

Headteacher's blog: Why it all starts here in Year 3

Date Posted: 4 January, 2024
READ MORE
Headteacher's blog: Getting through this together | Redmaids' High School

Headteacher's blog: Getting through this together | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 22 January, 2021
READ MORE
Headteacher's blog: Embracing technology in the junior school | Redmaids' High School

Headteacher's blog: Embracing technology in the junior school | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 26 February, 2020
READ MORE
Junior School Headteacher Mrs Brown explains why girls here positively thrive.

Junior School Headteacher Mrs Brown explains why girls here positively thrive.

Date Posted: 17 January, 2022
READ MORE
Headteacher's Blog: Why we love iPads - 10 years of Digital Learning at Redmaids' High Junior School

Headteacher's Blog: Why we love iPads - 10 years of Digital Learning at Redmaids' High Junior School

Date Posted: 6 March, 2023
Ten years ago, we took a great leap of faith, as one of the first schools in Bristol to begin using iPads in the...
READ MORE
New Head is announced | Redmaids' High School

New Head is announced | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 6 December, 2019
READ MORE
Head's Blog: Positivity in politics isn’t over; our children are proof of this

Head's Blog: Positivity in politics isn’t over; our children are proof of this

Date Posted: 8 January, 2021
READ MORE
Head's Blog: Why choose a single sex school?

Head's Blog: Why choose a single sex school?

Date Posted: 11 June, 2021
READ MORE
Head's Blog Student Takeover - IWD2023

Head's Blog Student Takeover - IWD2023

Date Posted: 8 March, 2023
Written by twins Shauna and Naina in Year 7, taking over Mr Dwyer's 'Head's Blog' for International Women's Day....
READ MORE
Head's Blog - What should we tell our children?

Head's Blog - What should we tell our children?

Date Posted: 3 March, 2022
There are many times when a teacher or parent might find themselves lost for words. Being posed a challenging question...
READ MORE
Head's Blog - Children's Mental Health

Head's Blog - Children's Mental Health

Date Posted: 8 February, 2023
By Paul Dwyer, Head
READ MORE
Head's Blog - What makes a school?

Head's Blog - What makes a school?

Date Posted: 4 February, 2022
READ MORE
Head's Blog - Leadership

Head's Blog - Leadership

Date Posted: 28 April, 2023
By Paul Dwyer, Head
READ MORE
Head's Blog - Art is in the eye of the beholder

Head's Blog - Art is in the eye of the beholder

Date Posted: 24 January, 2023
By Paul Dwyer, Head
READ MORE
Head's Blog - Discussing young people's mental health | Redmaids' High School

Head's Blog - Discussing young people's mental health | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 19 March, 2021
For all the progress that society has made in recent decades, we still have a long way to go when it comes to dealing...
READ MORE
Head's Blog - Reflecting on a year of lockdown | Redmaids' High School

Head's Blog - Reflecting on a year of lockdown | Redmaids' High School

Date Posted: 23 March, 2021
On this day of reflection, a year since we first went into lockdown, I have been thinking about what that journey has...
READ MORE
Click here to view all news articles