How important is reading for children?
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Why is reading still essential for children in the digital age?
The Claire Byrne Show on News Talk. With Aviva Insurance. Now we move to discussing how important reading is for children because with the digital world, the increasing popularity of iPads and tablets in their lives. We begin to ask have we forgotten to show our children how to pick up a book with Patricia Ford is former Irish Children's Laureate and she's here with me in the studio. Hello Patricia. Hi Claire, how are you? All sorts of benefits to reading that we mightn't automatically consider. It helps with vocabulary e even, right? Absolutely. And
I think too, you know, things maybe we don't think about. It gives children autonomy. gives them a certain power in a world where they are powerless for the most part. You know, information is power. And for a child to be able to read a book, And to gather that information to themselves and make decisions themselves is very empowering. But I think it's well you know, it's like you know when somebody has a new baby and they say, Oh, I wish it came with a manual There is no manual for being a human being. And the closest thing we have for children. are books, particularly novels, fiction, where children It can learn. From our received wisdom for thousands of years, the best of us preserved in books can learn
what it is to be a human. Yeah, you know, I uh as you say that I'm thinking about my nine year old who's reading Jacqueline Wilson at the moment. And she said to me the other day coming home from school, the reason I like Jacqueline Wilson is she talks about things that might happen in your life.
How does reading boost children’s vocabulary and autonomy?
So that's learning that hard things happen and here's how you might deal with them, which they mightn't otherwise see. No. I
mean the biggest difference between us and children is experience. They don't have the experience that we have. So when children Get to be nine or ten and if they're lucky and they've grown up in a lovely home and they've gone to a nice school, they believe that all adults are good. That all adults tell the truth. You and I know that that's not the case.
So we've got to have them find that out, right?
Yeah. But you know, as a writer, you're told show, don't tell. And that's where I think there's a great advantage in books. You as a parent can tell your child as many things as you like. Don't do this, don't do that. But I as an author can show them. I can show them somebody like themselves. In a story where they do something they shouldn't do and what the repercussions are. Or they do something that they should do. something good and what the repercussions are. So in a way, I think that's a really powerful thing for a child to see how other people work in the world. And the things that they mightn't be ready to talk to you about, an author can talk to them about.
And are they not going to get that from a television programme?
They will, they'll get some of it because television story programs are stories.
What role do books play in teaching life lessons and decision‑making?
But the thing I think about books is there's nothing more intimate than a book. It's just them and the voice of the author. Uh it's a very concentrated thing. There are if if they're in a quiet place there are fewer distractions maybe and they can stay in that world. But the other thing is you mentioned vocabulary, you know When we talk about children reading, we forget sometimes that to read you need vocabulary. And one of the things that's obsessing me a bit at the moment is that we're talking less. Now you and I are not to blame for that, Claire. Obviously we're doing more than the average, I'd say. But they there are people are talking less. So children are hearing fewer words. So when our kids were small and you went to the shop
I would talk to the woman in the supermarket when I was putting my things through, we'd talk about the weather, whatever. Now I'd probably go to the self service checkout, so they don't hear anybody. If they go to McDonald's they order on a screen. It's you know, we we are talking less and We need conversation. We need that. And the other thing is, even at the best of times, when you're just talking every day at home and at school, you're using about a thousand words.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
Why is reading still essential for children in the digital age?
0:01–1:33
2
How does reading boost children’s vocabulary and autonomy?
1:33–2:50
3
What role do books play in teaching life lessons and decision‑making?
2:50–4:08
4
Why are children hearing fewer words today and how does that affect reading?
4:08–5:21
5
How can parents encourage kids to choose a book over a screen?
5:21–6:29
6
What simple habits make reading a daily routine for families?
6:29–7:30
7
Why are libraries and school libraries vital for developing readers?
7:30–8:28
8
What are the long‑term benefits of reading for children’s education and happiness?
8:28–9:27