Making sense of slimming

With a grey, gloomy summer looking more and more likely, you and your kids might be a little glum at the prospect of spending the holidays indoors.

Keeping the kids entertained during the long summer break can be challenging enough when the sun is shining, so what do you do when the only blue sky you get to see is on holiday programmes?

Well, fortunately for you, there is one great activity that you can encourage your child to do - reading. Burying your head in a good book is back in fashion this summer after the hype surrounding the release of the final Harry Potter instalment. Why not make the most of all the excitement and get your child interested in reading?

Life lessons

There’s nothing quite like a good book. Reading is more interactive than watching television. Rather than just sitting staring blankly at a screen, children will read and follow a good story, imagining the characters and scenes, transporting themselves to another time and another place.

This is a great form of escapism, and can help a child to cope with any stresses and anxieties they may feel. There may be books that you can encourage your child to read at various points in their life which help them to understand what they are going through, for example books about separated parents, death, remarriage, puberty, starting a new school and making friends.

Children can also learn about their bodies, healthy lifestyles, and about diet and exercise through reading books and magazines.

Many children’s stories are educational, teaching children about the world and giving them lessons in morals, friendship, love and family. Many stories, including the traditional fairytales have underlying messages - for example be yourself, try hard, treat others as you would want to be treated, be fair and honest, have positive relationships and obey rules.

If you want to find a book that is suitable and beneficial to your child you could ask at a bookshop, talk to other parents or your child’s teacher, or keep an eye on child book reviews in newspapers and magazines.

You could also take a trip to your local library. Joining a library will mean you have access to hundreds of books, and you can read them for free! Library staff can help you to choose suitable books for you and your child, and you can find out about support for adults and children who are learning to read. There may be book clubs you or your child can join. This could be a great way of meeting new people with similar interests. Ask at your library to see if they run any clubs or activities.

Libraries are not only a great place to choose books, but also a fantastic setting for reading them! You can sit in peace and quiet and lose yourself in a great book. Contact your local council for information on libraries near you.

Learning about the world

Reading is a fantastic educational tool. A child who reads often has better prospects, as picking up a book develops their vocabulary, improves spelling, encourages imagination and creativity, and also helps with their all round comprehension skills.

Reading encourages children to think for themselves in a way that watching television and films doesn’t. This is an important life skill and will set your child in good stead for the future, in making positive life choices about lifestyle, health, education and relationships.

Reading at home is great practise for school, too. If you encourage your child to read they will find their confidence in their own reading abilities grows.

This will keep boredom at bay, and give you a nice easy life! Reading is also a fantastic activity for parents and children to share and enjoy together. You could read to your child, they could practise reading aloud with you. This is a very bonding experience as parent and child follow a story together.

Couch potatoes

All too often children can spend hours whiling away their lives in front of the television, or playing computer games. Research has suggested that too much time in front of a screen can lead to health problems such as short sightedness, diabetes, premature puberty and can even trigger autism in those who have a tendency to the condition. It can also lead to learning problems, and difficulty sleeping.

You may feel then, that reading is a preferred activity for your child this summer. Of course, a downside to reading is that, like television and computer games, it brings with it a sedentary lifestyle.

Encourage your child to only read for an hour or two a day. Children need lots of exercise; sitting around all day is not good for them. A lazy non-active lifestyle means that your child is more likely to become obese and develop health problems such as heart disease and diabetes in later life.

If the sun does come out, make sure to make the most of it and head out into the sunshine for some exercise. You could go for a walk, or play games with your child such as football, catch or Frisbee. Try and get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.

If your child is at a good spot in their book - when they can’t put it down! - you could take them to the park and read together, then go for a walk afterwards.

If your child does like to read, encourage them to eat healthily rather than snacking on chocolate and crisps as they read. Everyone should get five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, so when you go shopping, buy foods such as bananas, apples and oranges for your child to munch on.

Grown up fairytales

It’s not just children who benefit from reading. Many adults find that there is nothing better than snuggling up with a favourite book when it’s cold outside. Most of us lead busy, hectic lifestyles, and reading is a way of taking time out for yourself and relaxing.

Many people find that reading is a great way to unwind, it helps relieve stress and takes your mind off any worries or troubles you may otherwise brood over.

Don’t think that the benefits of reading for adults are just about de-stressing either. Adults can also develop their vocabulary and improve their spelling, literacy and comprehension skills in the same way that children do. It’s never too late to learn.

There is a huge choice of books available to you. Novels, fiction, non-fiction, biographies - the list is endless, you are bound to find something you enjoy.

Self-help, self-improvement, health, motivational and educational books will give you a greater awareness and general knowledge.

Reading is a great way to expand your own horizons; you can learn about pretty much anything you choose!

Sight and reading difficulties

Dyslexia is one of the most common learning difficulties. It is a condition that affects reading, numeracy and literacy skills. It ranges in severity from person to person, and can range from minor difficulties with spelling to severe problems with reading itself.

People with dyslexia often have normal or above average intelligence, but struggle in reading and writing tasks.

If your child has dyslexia or any other reading difficulty, they do not have to miss out on the wonderful world of story-telling. You can read to your child. Putting as much excitement and emphasis into your voice as you can will help your child to listen to and understand the story.

It may be that you or your child has sight problems and so finds it difficult, or is completely unable to read. There are Braille versions of both adult and children’s books available so that those with sight problems can still enjoy reading. Ask in a bookshop for help and advice on Braille books.

For children and adults with sight and reading difficulties, audio books are available in most good bookshops. Many titles are available, including the popular ones so you or your child can pop in the CDs and hear what all the fuss is about!

Further information:

Dyslexia

Hearing and vision tests for children

Diet

Exercise

How can I keep my kids amused during the holidays?