World Book Day last week is followed by the Travelling Book Fair in our local schools to help inspire children to read.  Many of our children love reading, some do not and yet have a vivid imagination so what is reading really good about that movies and other creative hobbies wont do for your child?

While there are many creative hobbies that children can engage in, reading offers a unique set of benefits. Unlike other activities, such as drawing or playing sports, reading takes children on a journey to new worlds and helps them experience different emotions and perspectives. Reading can provide a sense of calm and escape from everyday stresses, while also improving cognitive skills such as empathy and vocabulary.

Additionally, non-fiction books and news articles can provide valuable information and advice on difficult emotions, such as anger or sadness. My children receive The Week Junior every week, which deals with lots of different news topics, including Uk news, world news, but also environment news, space and sciences, as well as book, games and movie reviews. It offers a great opportunity to appeal to everyone and adults too!

By participating in reading challenges and exploring different genres, children can discover the books that resonate with them the most and continue to develop their love for reading. As Rebecca Hill, a children's book editor, says, the joy of reading comes from discovering which book is right for each individual reader.

In Children Yoga Classes, we include a story based Yoga sequence as part of our lesson plans. Our lesson plans are really structured and the story aspect only account for a third of the class, however it is a brilliant opportunity to act out our characters, and practice a wide range of dynamic Yoga poses whilst having fun. What is especially beneficial is the reflection aspect at the end of each story when we can guide reflection for children and help them process the characters emotions as well as understand bigger concepts in a constructive way using known analytical tools such as w.w.w. (what went well) and e.b.i (even better if). If children can empathise with the characters, it brings them a little bit closer to their own emotions and provide them with tools to process their own experiences, whilst debriefing and talking in a circle. Story telling and reading is in fact very therapeutic.