Books may not be the first thing we think about when it comes to mental health. However for many families, spending time together and sharing stories plays a key role in forming healthy, happy relationships.
For Children’s Mental Health Week we’re exploring how reading and sharing stories is a powerful tool to support children’s wellbeing, from babies to teens.
At BookTrust our mission is to get children from low-income backgrounds reading regularly. We do this because of the strong evidence that shows reading with children from an early age impacts on a wide range of short and long term outcomes.
As they grow, many children who’ve experienced adversity have found reading as a safe space for escapism, making sense of emotions and feeling they belong. Research shows that children who develop a love of reading from a young age are more likely to experience better mental health in adolescence and enjoy improved overall wellbeing.
We also know good relationships with caregivers are fundamental to children’s happiness. Sharing books and stories from an early age is a fantastic tool for bonding. It creates space for warm, playful, responsive interactions that scaffold attachment and help children feel secure and loved.
The transformative power of shared reading
It’s not an exaggeration to say that reading saved me when I was little; what BookTrust is doing is a lifeline for children like me.
Bennet, a kinship-experienced facilitator
Some of the transformative benefits of reading include:
- Bonding and building trust between adult and child through the closeness of reading together.
- Supporting emotional wellbeing through escapism, emotional regulation and empathy.
- Supporting a sense of familiarity and security through development of a routine.
- Strengthening belonging and identity through stories that reflect their own and others lives.
As children grow, reading continues to support wellbeing. Fiction gives children a break from daily stressors, promoting relaxation and calmness. Storybooks can introduce them to relatable characters who face and overcome challenges, which helps them learn about themselves and their emotions in a safe, structured way.
When children see how characters handle tough situations, they can pick up valuable coping strategies and realise that setbacks don’t have to stop them. This builds resilience, teaching them to face real-life challenges with confidence and flexibility.
What to read?
Finding the right book can make all the difference. Books that reflect diverse family structures, celebrate children’s individuality, encourage self-discovery and build confidence.
Books also have the power to open up conversations. Our booklists feature books for discussing emotions with younger, or older children.
Last year we spoke to nearly 100 parents, carers and children from kinship, fostering and adoptive families as we wanted to understand how to support more children to experience the transformational benefits of books and stories.
Based on these conversations we recently published a new briefing on the role of reading for children experiencing vulnerability. The briefing demonstrates evidence of how reading can increase enjoyment and stability for children experiencing vulnerability and outlines how together we can strengthen bonding and attachment for children and families.
Our research shows children are more likely to become readers when they’re inspired by multiple people in their lives. As potential ‘reading influencers’ find out more about the tools we have to support you, on our website.
By sharing stories, we can create lasting change and support children’s growth, one page at a time.
