National Reading Month

In celebration of National Reading Month, we wanted to talk a little bit about how important reading is for all of us but especially young people. Information from the Childrens Bureau shares that there are 7 key benefits to reading to children. Here they are:

·        Supported Cognitive development

·        Improved language skills

·        Preparation for academic success

·        Developing a special bond with your child

·        Increased concentration and discipline

·        Improved imagination and creativity

·        Cultivating a lifelong love of reading

As we all know, a lot of the children kinship caregivers care for have experienced trauma unlike typical children their age. While reading every night can feel like a chore, it can be such a benefit for children especially those experiencing trauma. Reading can be a therapeutic approach to trauma. The National Alliance on Mental Illness explains that books can also play a vital role in mental illness recovery and “bibliotherapy” considers reading a therapeutic in understanding emotions. These children have a hard time putting their emotions to words and there are so many amazing books that can help them do just that. The simple act of reading to your kinship children can be monumental for their trauma recovery. If you need books or ideas, a Kinship Navigator would love to connect you to some reading resources in your area.