In the past, reading was a skill that only a learned few possessed. In fact, the majority of the population got on with their lives without needing to know what these strange symbols meant. But, as time marched on, and civilization became more complex, being able to read and write became a more crucial skill. Today, in modern society, difficulties with reading provide a major roadblock to living your life, because everyone assumes you can. Want to know how long to heat a microwave meal for? It’s written on the side of the box. Want to apply for a job (even a manual labour job)? The details are on the website. Modern life is built upon the assumption that you can read.

This is why supporting children with their literacy from as early an age as possible is essential. And every child’s aptitudes and struggles are different, which is why it’s important to get a headstart. Not to mention that the earlier you start to do something, the more easily it becomes a habit. And reading is definitely amongst the positive habits you want a child to develop.

This, by itself, is a strong enough argument for supporting children’s literacy; it’s an essential skill that unblocks a huge amount of opportunities in modern society. But this is far from the only reason why encouraging children to read is so beneficial to them. Reading also benefits a person on a physical level. To begin with, the health of a person’s brain relies on the same thing that the health of a person’s muscles does: being used. Reading is a complex activity involving decoding what is written on the page/screen and then visualizing the information you gain from this. What this means is that while you’re sitting in a comfortable chair and reading an exciting story, you’re giving your brain a workout, which will help to keep it healthy. This also helps to develop and sharpen various cognitive skills such as critical thinking and creativity, as well as imagination, all of which are massively transferable skills. And the physical benefits don’t stop there because, while you’re working out your brain, you’re giving your body a rest because you’re relaxing with a good book. Studies show that regular reading can help to lower blood pressure, as well as improve sleep quality.

The benefits of reading also extend to mental health, especially when it comes to reading fiction. The first of these benefits is catharsis; the process of releasing strong emotions, which naturally provides relief from them. In our daily lives, we can build up many strong emotions that we don’t always have an outlet for without causing problems for us. There are many ways to work through and release these emotions, but one of the simplest ways to do so healthily is to read a story. If you get engaged in a story you really love, you’ll find yourself projecting yourself into the shoes of the various characters. This allows you experience the emotions that they are going through, while still having the distance which comes from knowing it’s just a story. This allows you to achieve catharsis without experiencing the trauma you would gain from actually going through the danger and struggles of the characters. Furthermore, this also helps you to develop your empathy, as you consider an experience you haven’t gone through yourself.

Past all these other developments, reading is just fun, and getting children into reading gives them a lifetime of different experiences and adventures. There are, of course, many different forms of entertainment these days; each with their own benefits. Films, TV and videogames are other ways you can experience stories, but reading gives you an experience which is deeply personal to you. Films and TV provide stories which are highly structured; how the actors did the scene, or what is focused on is how it is experienced, and there is much less scope for individual interpretation. Even videogames, a much more interactive medium of entertainment have player choice highly curated and structured.

But with reading, there is much more room for your own personal interpretation of characters and their motives, between the black and white of the words. There’s a reason why five people can read the same story and each come away with a different take on the meaning of the story.

By helping your children to develop a love of reading, you’re not just helping them to obtain the many practical benefits which come with it, you’re giving them a lifetime of adventures to enjoy along the way.