What impact, if any, does access to print materials have on our children’s reading?
A lot, according to extensive research by RIF, Reading Is Fundamental, a non-profit children’s literacy organization based in Washington, DC.
Owning and borrowing books from the library causes, “positive behavioural, educational and psychological outcomes.”
In other words, kids who have access to books do better socially and at school.
(Does this sound familiar to regular GKR readers? But I digress.)
RIF found that having access to printed materials:
…improves children’s reading performance. Children, and kindergarten students in particular, read better when they’re often surrounded by books.
…is instrumental in helping children learn the basics of reading. Kids who have lots of different books become better at identifying words, being able to sound out words, and read sentences.
…causes children to read more and for longer lengths of time. There is more shared reading between parents and children. Kids read more often and for longer stretches.
…produces improved attitudes toward reading and learning among children. Kids who own, borrow or who are given books say they like reading and schoolwork more than kids who don’t have access to books.
So there you have it. It’s what this blog has been advocating for more than a year, and I’m thrilled to see another significant study that backs it up: kids who have access to books are much more likely to become great readers, and to love reading.
Scatter books around the house
Please check out these ideas for surrounding your kid with books.
Mom got her son reading!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (let him find books on his bed)
Get your six-year-old reading
More books = more education
How the RIF study was done
Researchers searched 11,000 reports and analyzed 108 of the most relevant studies. They then chose “the most thorough and carefully conducted 44” of the 108 and did further analysis in order to draw their conclusions. That’s a lot of stuff.
