Being able to read does not always refer to the written word. Never underestimate the ability of a football legend to ‘read’ a game, or an audience to be able to ‘read’ an artwork, a hunter to ‘read’ the signs of its prey (or vice versa), a movie-goer to ‘read’ the mood in a scene or a detective to ‘read’ the clues at a crime scene: the list goes on… However, as a school teacher, it is my business to teach children the ability to read the written word and to understand what they read, and then be able to transfer that to writing.

Reading is the biggest form of communication in the modern world, even if it is done increasingly via internet and not books.

Not being able to read can be a barrier for children, as listed below:

• It can be a source of frustration, anger, fear an d isolation as children feel left out and left behind by their peer group who can read. This, in turn, weakens their self-esteem and self-identity.
• Illiterate people are, historically, easier to control and manipulate. Illiterate people cannot do their own research and thinking as they must rely on what they are told. Both of these are reasons why some rulers and governments of the world, past and present, resist free and honest communication.
• Not being able to read is a handicap that makes life harder in the world as we know it. For example, it could be the difference between life and death when it comes to instructions on a medicine bottle.

On the other hand, being able to read has many benefits, as listed below:

• It is a source of entertainment, on one hand, and a source of useful and interesting factual information, on the other.
• Children are influenced by and mimic the world around them, so reading can have a positive influence on them. For example, it can show them how to be cooperative, to share, to be kind to animals and to respect the environment. It can also teach them about acceptance of others and life in general, among other things.
• It can improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, as the pages of a book are turned, for example.
• It exposes children to the grammar, spelling and punctuation rules of the language they are reading in.
• It can enhance their development of their expressive and receptive language skills, as they are exposed to new vocabulary.
• Children meet characters and hear of situations that they can identify with, reinforcing their position in the world. Or they meet new characters and situations that can tantalise their interests, encouraging them to try new experiences and test new ideas in a safe environment.
• It can assist children to develop their problem solving skills, via a mystery story for example, as well as conflict resolution skills.

I can talk forever about the benefits of reading (and ultimately writing) but I’m running out of space! So I’ll finish by saying that the biggest benefit of reading is the bonding experience that it can provide between yourself and your child. Simply set aside a time, preferably daily but at the worst weekly, where you share an age-appropriate book and indulge in conversation about the characters, settings and events, and how these relate to your lives. Doing this helps your child bond with their world as well, and sets them up for positive experiences in the future. What more could we want for our kids?