#AD Since my children were born books have been a big part of their lives.  Snuggled up together books settled them at bedtime and coaxed them off to sleep.  Over the years they have helped expand their world and imaginations.  Basically setting them off on many exciting adventures!  Books continue to play an important role in our household.  Inspiring my boys to have new ideas and providing the answers to lots of questions since they became independent readers with curious minds!  But even though they are confident readers I still love tucking in with them and seeing what book they are enjoying or introducing them to a favourite book from my childhood.

I think its essential to make time to read.  BookTrust are firm believers of the value of reading.  My boys don’t have televisions in their bedrooms.  Instead I prefer to keep adding to their extensive book collections.  Screen time does happen but is limited downstairs.  This is because I want the time before bed to involve unwinding in the best possible way, lost in a good book!

Reading for Better Mental Health

BookTrust the UK’s largest reading charity found that only 51% of children aged 8 – 11 years talk to their parents about what worries them.  Reading can be beneficial to children’s mental health, it’s a form of escapism.  A way to have a break from whatever is making them feel anxious or worried.

I also prefer it as an option for my children over too much TV or console time.  So many children are tech focused these days.  My children relax so much better with a good story.  However according to BookTrust children aged 8-11 generally prefer screen-based activities (eg.TV and video games) to unwind (65 per cent of those they surveyed).  Yet books offer so many advantages to our children, I think its vital we make time to read whenever possible.

Books are a great way for children to make sense of a situation.  Reading helps children become more resilient.  Through books they can see how characters have dealt with similar situations and what techniques worked for them.  I think books can give them the skills to develop their emotional intelligence.

I have enjoyed reading You Are Awesome with my eldest.  It has lots of tips to inspire children to reach their potential!  With enough dedication and hard work anything is possible.

Dealing with New Situations

I have always turned to books if my boys have a new situation to deal with.  When my eldest was about to become a big brother we bought a lovely picture book about a new baby called “There’s a House Inside My Mummy” to prepare him for the changes ahead.  I felt he could better understand what it would mean.  He could accept I might get tired and learn how he could help out too.

Books can make it easier for children to open up about sensitive topics like bullying or changes in their bodies as they approach puberty.  Sometimes discussing the book content together makes them more willing to strike up a conversation about how they are really feeling.  School can be tough; books can be one way to help our children cope.  There isn’t an age when you should stop reading with your children, it gives you a chance to connect.  In our busy lives those few moments can mean so much to them.

Lots of books encourage laughter like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.  Light relief that can help them forgot the hard day they might have had at school.  Laughter really can be the best medicine!

Make Reading Enjoyable

Not only are my boys good at reading, they actually enjoy reading.  I think its because we have always had a variety of reading material.  When my youngest was little he loved Dennis the Menace.  As a result we bought lots of magazines and annuals to encourage him to want to read.  Also make the most of your library and let your child find a book that interests them that you can read together.

The BookTrust are giving away over 700,000 free copies of Rob Hodgson’s picture book ‘The Cave’ to every school starter in England.  This is an important part of its annual Time to Read campaign.

Diana Gerald, BookTrust CEO said: “Sharing a book is about so much more than simply reading a story together. It creates a wonderful closeness, and it’s also an opportunity to talk about the themes in the book, whether that’s separation anxiety, making friends, losing someone important or simply learning to be brave. It’s so easy to stop the bedtime story or other shared reading once children can read for themselves, but that magical ten minutes doesn’t just help engage children in stories and reading; it also relaxes them, helps them understand the world around them, and often stimulates important conversations about what’s going on in their lives. Our research shows that children love to be read with, and we hope that The Cave will prove hugely popular with families across the country.”

Join In the Twitter Party

BookTrust are hosting a twitter party this Thursday the 19^th of September 8pm until 9pm it would be fantastic if you could join in using the hashtag #TimeToRead

There will be book tokens given away and developmental psychologist Emma Kenny will be on hand to answer any questions you have.

BookTrust Giveaway

I have a lovely goody bag bundle to giveaway as pictured below with four wonderful books to read with your children.

If you would like to enter please fill in the form below by the 18^th of October.

Win a BookTrust Goody Bag

Also check out my other open competitions.