{"id":300,"date":"2017-08-11T20:24:55","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T20:24:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kumon-us-english-blog.local\/blog\/7-research-driven-reasons-read-more-literature\/"},"modified":"2023-08-31T11:10:42","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T15:10:42","slug":"7-research-driven-reasons-read-more-literature","status":"publish","type":"canadian_english","link":"https:\/\/www.kumon.com\/resources\/canadian_english\/7-research-driven-reasons-read-more-literature\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Research-Driven Reasons to Read More Literature"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although we take in tons of information through our smart devices, the fact is that people are reading less actual literature than in previous years. The National Endowment for the Arts has funded several studies and resources (like this one<\/a>) and found that the number of adults who report reading literature has steadily fallen in recent years, from 47% in 2012 to 45% in 2013 and 43.1% in 2015. This is down from around 57% in 1982.<\/p>\n

So people aren’t reading as many books, but they are reading more aren’t they? With all the devices we use on a daily basis, surely we are reading more overall? Although that may be true in some sense, there’s a difference between reading actual books on paper when compared to reading social media posts on digital screens. A growing body of research suggests that there are numerous benefits to traditional “book-in-hand” reading. In\u00a0this study<\/a>,\u00a0one piece of research cited from Norway found that students who read from actual books scored significantly better on reading comprehension tests compared to those who read from digital sources. The researchers believe this is because paper gives readers \u201cspatio-temporal\u201d markers when they read.<\/p>\n

International Literacy Day\u00a0is just around the corner (September 8th<\/sup>), so there\u2019s no better time to believe in the value of reading for your child\u2019s development. Reading is kind of a big deal for us because we know that reading more helps take a child’s imagination to new heights. One of our very own Kumon students has recently given us a prime example of what’s possible with the\u00a0publishing of her first novel<\/a>\u00a0– and she’s just starting grade 8 this year!<\/p>\n

If you hope your children can reach similarly high heights, we strongly recommend you make reading a regular part of your family\u2019s day-to-day, so we\u2019re pulling out every trick in the book to give you 7 research driven reasons to read more literature.<\/p>\n

\"7<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Reading Builds Empathy<\/h2>\n

Reading can literally turn you into more of an open book. According to research published in\u00a0Science Magazine<\/a>, reading fiction has the power to build an individual\u2019s tendencies towards the empathetic.\u00a0<\/em>The results are much more apparent in those who read fiction than those who read nonfiction. Get lost in a book, relate to the characters, and you\u2019ll be able to relate more to people in your daily life!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Reading Books Increases Brain Power<\/h2>\n

Reading helps us acquire knowledge, but beyond that, it can actually help build real brain-power! Just like cardiovascular activity exercises our bodies, reading exercises the brain. As we age, we experience a decline in memory and brain function, but reading regularly may help slow the process, according to research published in\u00a0Neurology<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Reading Can Relax You<\/h2>\n

Cognitive\u00a0neuropsychologist\u00a0David Lewis\u200b told\u00a0The Telegraph<\/em><\/a>, “It really doesn’t matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.” Getting your kids into the habit of reading every day could really help set them up for a lifetime of smooth sailing. One 2009 study by Sussex University researchers (as\u00a0referenced<\/a>\u00a0by our friends in Kumon UK) showed that reading may reduce stress by as much as\u00a068%.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Reading Raises Intellect<\/h2>\n

Getting into a great book opens the door to knowledge starting from a very young age. Children’s books expose kids to 50% more words than prime time TV. These findings, taken from\u00a0The Journal of Child Development<\/a>, also say that exposure to new vocabulary not only leads to higher scores on reading tests, but also higher scores on general tests of intelligence. Plus, stronger early reading skills may mean higher intelligence later in life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Reading Might Stave-Off Dementia<\/h2>\n

Your kids might be a long way from having to worry about dementia, but it doesn\u2019t hurt to get them moving in the right direction early. Reading puts your brain to work, and that’s a very good thing. Those who engage their brains through activities such as reading, chess, or puzzles, could be 2.5 times less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than those who spend their down time on less stimulating activities. The study, produced by\u00a0PNAS<\/a>, states that exercising the brain may help because it presents an alternative to inactivity. Essentially, use it or lose it \u2013 take care of those brains!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. Reading Habits Rub-Off<\/h2>\n

As much as 75%\u00a0of parents wish their children would read more for fun, and we couldn\u2019t be happier to be on the same page! If you are among those who want to encourage their children to read more, one way to start is by reading out loud at home. The tendency is to stop reading out loud to kids once they can do it themselves, but a\u00a0new report<\/a>\u00a0from Scholastic suggests that reading out loud to kids throughout their elementary school years might push them towards adopting the habit of reading more fully.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. Reading a Real Book Before Bed Can Help You Sleep Better<\/h2>\n

Creating a bedtime ritual, like reading before bed, creates a signal to your body that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep, according to the\u00a0Mayo Clinic<\/a>. This is in direct opposition to how we react to digital surfaces. Screens like e-readers and tablets can actually\u00a0keep you awake longer<\/a>\u00a0and even\u00a0hurt<\/em>\u00a0your sleep. As parents, it\u2019s a great idea to lead by example as often as you can. The Journal of Pediatrics, according to this\u00a0research<\/a>, says that 54% of children sleep near a small screen, and clock 20 fewer minutes of shut-eye on average as a result.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Why would you suggest reading actual books instead of reading from a digital screen? Let us know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Want to get more kids reading? Share this infographic and let’s give books\u00a0a little more love! Take a look below (or\u00a0click here<\/a>\u00a0to view it full-sized in another tab)<\/p>\n

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\"7<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Kumon can also help you understand where your child stands academically, figure out their learning priorities and establish the routine needed to succeed.\u00a0<\/em>Schedule a parent orientation session<\/em><\/a>\u00a0to find out more.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s no secret, we love reading<\/a>. While all forms of reading are great, research suggests that reading books and literature provides more benefits than reading content on screens. Here are 7 reasons why!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":10892,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","subjects":[230],"class_list":["post-300","canadian_english","type-canadian_english","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","subjects-reading-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n7 Research-Driven Reasons to Read More Literature - Student Resources<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Research suggests that reading books and literature provides more benefits than reading content on screens. 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