Book Week Family Reading Challenge

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Our school kicked off a family reading challenge during book week following the idea from a father daughter challenge to read together for 100 straight bedtimes without missing once.

Our children were given a goal to read for ten minutes each evening for two weeks in a row with a parent or a family member. So that’s what we did…

The idea behind it was to help families inculcate healthy reading habits because reading is such a beneficial activity.

Children who read for pleasure perform better academically.

“CHILDREN with strong reading skills are more likely to have higher intelligence levels as young adults, according to a study of identical twins.” – Herald Scotland

Reading reduces stress.

“The University of Sussex thinks that you should consider reading instead. Reading was the most effective way that participants were able to defeat stress, doing so in only six minutes.” – Huffingtonpost.com

Reading helps us to be more empathetic to the struggles of others.

“When you watch TV or see a film, you are looking at things happening to other people. Prose fiction is something you build up from 26 letters and a handful of punctuation marks, and you, and you alone, using your imagination, create a world, and people it and look out through other eyes. You get to feel things, visit places and worlds you would never otherwise know. You learn that everyone else out there is a me, as well. You’re being someone else, and when you return to your own world, you’re going to be slightly changed.” – Neil Gaiman

Children love it!

“Children love to hear when a good story is being read to them. . . . read with love, understanding and compassion . . . Parents are the most influential teachers in the lives of their children, and because of this parents should set the best examples for good reading habits. This can be accomplished by reading to them, read in their sight and help them as they read. Be their cheerleader, and best friend. Reading should be fun.” – Moya Dixon