If there is ONE thing in my childhood I wish I did more, it was to READ. Reading opens up a new world of imagination and possibilities. Even though my dad would tell us (my siblings and I) to read all the time, we weren’t interested. There were far more interesting movies to watch or other things to do. I discovered the love of reading in my mid twenties and I wish I had earlier. Now that I am older, I feel like I have so many good books to catch up on.
When it comes to reading, we usually have a set of excuses like not having the resources or not having time. I had both of these excuses when I was on the borderline between wanting to read sometime and enjoying to read all the time. In this day and time, where you can access free books at the tip of your fingers, getting a book is not difficult. Time is relative; you have time for what you want to do. Once I realized these two reasons were just excuses, I went and got a library card. I have been consistently going to the library and making time to read almost daily since then.
What are the benefits of reading?
Reading changes everything! It changes what you know and how you see the world. It increases your knowledge and creativity. For young kids, reading helps them calm down, gain focus and improve their vocabulary. As older youth, it aids their decision making skills, improves communication and much more. It’s important to instill a reading habit in kids while they are still young. This habit will grow with them and they will learn to love reading.
Side note: Since libraries have been closed due to the pandemic, I have turned to reading on my tablet. An acquaintance recently told me about the free app called Libby. All you need is a library card and you can connect that library card to the app and to your local library. Then you can check out and read as many books as you like!
Call for ACTION: READ for at least 15 minutes each day. If you have young children, read to them! If are a bit older, allow them reading time before bed, while you read your own book!
Check out some of my favorite reads here!