– Children who read daily gain reading skills and vocabulary skills
– Set an example, always carry a book or create a reading habit, among the tips highlighted by Cruïlla for minors to read during the summer period
Barcelona, 17 July 2023. With the arrival of summer, many children yearn for the pool and the beach and want to enjoy the rest they deserve. That’s why, after the long months of the course, it’s important that, during their holidays, while having fun, they don’t neglect the habit of reading and make them see that books can be a good companion on adventures too during this period. The reason? Reading is one of the hobbies that most help children in their development. However, it’s easy to give up reading during the summer, and losing the habit can result in a two- to three-month setback in reading ability and comprehension and expression, according to a study published by the journal Reading Psychology.
Aware of this, Cruïlla, a cultural reference for children’s and young people’s literature in the Catalan language, collects five tips to encourage reading in children:
1. Set an example: children are sponges: they absorb everything they see and try to imitate as much as they can everything around them. For this reason, parents must be an example so that their children see that reading is a way to invest in free time and a different and entertaining form of leisure.
2. Bring reading closer to their world: not everyone has the same tastes. Finding a story that they are passionate about is essential for them to be able to enjoy a good book. You need to know the genres that suit them best, as well as the type of book adapted to their level and age.
3. Always carry a book: with the free time you have in the summer, it’s very easy to get bored. It is important that, when we see that children no longer know what to do, we offer them the option to pick up a book to entertain themselves.
4. Reading for pleasure: Children live daily with reading at school. That is why it is important that they also see it as more entertainment. They are the ones who have to choose which books they want to read. The goal is for them to become fond of literature, regardless of genre. Reading will help them develop their imagination, comprehension, concentration and vocabulary.
5. Create a reading habit: according to data from the Ministry of Culture and Sport, 83.7% of children aged 6 to 9 read books beyond textbooks. In order not to lose the habit during the summer, it is necessary to establish a routine, as well as to have moments of leisure. Núria Melgosa, director of Cruïlla, emphasizes the fact that “we must integrate reading into the leisure of children. Reading is one of the hobbies that most helps them in their development and the holidays are a good time to strengthen this habit. At Cruïlla, we believe that reading is a tool we have very handy and that allows us to educate the our mind while giving us a moment to enjoy.”
Reading recommendations for children and teenagers
The experts at Cruïlla have drawn up a list with the most recommended literary novelties for the summer according to the different ages: For children between 0 and 5 years old, they suggest:
Pep, Pep’s Magic Book: Pep’s friends have gone into hiding and he has to find them. Help him by pulling the tabs on each page and discover a lot of surprises with him.
Pau Pinyó An adventure without pants: Pau Pinyó is a lemming who never stands still. This time he wants to find a yellow poppy to give to his grandmother. But it’s all a bit difficult… Will he make it?
For readers aged between 6 and 9, they propose:
Dragon Princesses, The Fifth Realm: The Dragon Princesses and their friends have had to take refuge in the so-called fifth realm to escape the dragon-elves. Yes, yes, the fifth realm really exists! It is deep inside, underground and, all of it, full of surprises.
Mozters, The Great Banquet: The monsters of the Calfreds boarding school have decided to expel the humans from the castle and to do so they can think of nothing more than… make them hungry! Luckily, Mumus and his friends are willing to stop it… but that doesn’t mean they’ll succeed!
And, for the older ones, between 10 and 12 years old, they recommend:
Omnitubers, L’omniphone: When Sara, Hugh and Adrià discover the remains of a very strange meteorite, little do they know that their lives are about to change forever.
Communication Cruïlla comunicaciocruilla@trescom.es*
Ester Lara- (34)* 666 044 652 *Carmela Lasheras*-*(34) 622 186 165
For readers aged between 6 and 9, they suggest: https://www.cruilla.cat/cat
