Every February is celebrated as “I Love To Read” month with a number of different activities centered around reading happening in Manitoba schools. This year, as in years past, I donated books to each of the elementary schools in my constituency and had the opportunity to read to hundreds of the students as well.
Local schools do a tremendous job of promoting the importance of reading. At the elementary school age, it is hard for many students to grasp just how important reading is to so many aspects of life. When I read to classes in Steinbach and New Bothwell this year, it was obvious that students enjoy reading and being read to. What often goes unnoticed is that, more than just being fun, reading provides so many other benefits.
Recently I was reading a study from an American university that said reading a book can heighten connectivity in the brain and create muscle memory. That would hardly be the reason an elementary school student would go to their school library and read “What Does The Fox Say” but the benefits of reading are not related to the motivation for reading. The benefits of reading come whether you are reading for fun, for leisure or for work.
And the benefits are many. Among them are the building of skills. Because books go into greater detail and depth than classroom lectures, they are an essential building block to knowledge in both grade school and in college or university. Reading also increases your vocabulary as it exposes you to new words and phrases. Studies also show that reading can build a person’s self-esteem as they become more knowledgeable about a broad range of topics and subjects. Reading has also been shown to reduce stress. That might seem like more of an adult problem but getting away from the noise and distraction of television and video games can benefit all ages.
These are just a few of the benefits that come from reading. There is also a practical side to the reading of books. Books are generally very portable so they can come with you on the school bus or on a vacation. That is especially true these days when books can be stored and accessed electronically. Also, books are generally affordable and therefore accessible to most young people.
I Love To Read Month isn’t really about getting young people to read more for just one month. It’s about trying to create a lifetime love of reading. In the early years, that is often fostered by parents reading to their children and the benefits of that are nearly endless.
I want to thank all of the teachers in our schools who participated in I Love To Read month activities and who make reading fun and enjoyable for their students. It positively impacts our young people for their entire lives.
