Why is every parent who reads regularly the foundation of a child's future? How does family reading build a sense of freedom and agency? How does it strengthen authentic partnership and build a deep man-child relationship? What books should you reach for to make reading together a great adventure? And why is it so important for dad, uncle or guardian to read too? These questions are answered by the #TataTeżCzyta2024 campaign organized by the Powszechnego Czytania Foundation and Tatarak publishing house.
The main goal of the campaign is to encourage men, especially fathers and guardians, to read to children. The organizers have planned a number of promotional activities aimed at popularizing the campaign. The campaign is accompanied by a publication - a guide for parents and guardians "Superpower of books #TataTeżCzyta2024". The ambassadors of the #TataTeżCzyta2024 campaign include Łukasz Dominiak, Łukasz "Juras" Jurkowski, Kamil Nowak, Marcin Perfuński and Wiesław Nowobilski, Katarzyna Zielińska, Anna Dereszowska, Magda Kordaszewska and Joanna Flis. The campaign was also supported by Anna and Robert Lewandowscy.
Why does #TataAlsoRead?
According to the latest readership research conducted by National Library, men read much less often than women (36% and 50% respectively). The emotional attitude towards this activity is similarly distributed – 53% women like or like reading very much, while in the case of men this percentage is 36%. Taking a closer look at the relationship between the emotional attitude and practice, it is worth noting that in the case of women it is stronger – as many as 88% female readers declare a positive attitude towards reading, in the case of male readers this percentage is 74%. We see the difference in attitudes very clearly as publishers of children's books. The vast majority of people we see at fairs or author meetings are women. Our observations were reflected in the research of the National Library and that is how the idea was born to send an invitation to Gentlemen – says Monika Wróbel-Lutz, owner of the Tatarak publishing house and initiator of the campaign.
As we read in the report, the differences between the reading attitudes of women and men do not depend only on the level of education or the time devoted to acquiring it. Different models of socialization to reading in the family environment are also crucial. Attitudes in this area formed in childhood and early youth influence behavior in adulthood. The lack of a male reading role model is one of the reasons why boys abandon reading habits after the school period. – emphasizes Dr. Tomasz Makowski, director of the National Library. Active involvement of men in reading socialization in the family environment helps develop and consolidate reading attitudes, especially among boys. The organizers of the #TataTeżCzyta campaign emphasize that this is superpower, which is worth using to build a relationship with your child.
At the same time, reading involvement in Polish families is not very intense.
According to the “Family Power 2” research conducted by the IQS Group, 41% parents consider reading books as a value worth passing on to their children. Unfortunately, this is a low percentage. Putting this theory into practice shows an even lower level of commitment than the declared value: only 38% women and 30% men confirmed that they read to their child.
Data comes from the Family Power 2 syndicated study, conducted by IQS, which covers families without children and families with children aged 2-18. Full quantitative and qualitative process. Deadline: June - October 2023.
I support #TataTeżCzyta from the beginning. I know from my own life how much reading gives, I also know as a father how much reading with my daughter gave me and her. I highly recommend it! – Łukasz “Juras” Jurkowski, one of the heroes, emphasizes with the energy of an athlete a spot promoting the campaign.
Reading gives you freedom!
This year's campaign slogan #TataTeżCzyta draws attention to various areas that are developed thanks to reading. There are dozens of studies from various centers and fields that have collectively proven that reading books from an early age builds our psychophysical health and life success at an individual level, which translates, at a social level, into scientific and economic success and the social capital of the community. Reading equips us with competences that make us understand the choices we make, that we are able to look for options, answers, and analyze the reality around us. Reading is agency and entrepreneurship, in other words... freedom!
Freedom in this slogan is understood as self-awareness and competences built through reading, which enable a child to become who they want to be – it gives them true freedom to choose their life path and career path. This is the fundamental assumption of all our activities – we want every child in Poland to have the chance to realize the full potential they are born with – to have full freedom in their choices and development – Maria Deskur, president of the board of the Universal Reading Foundation, strongly emphasizes.
WHY it is worth reading to children and HOW to do it best
Children whose parents read to them regularly understand twice as many words as their peers at the age of three! Reading affects development and stimulates life success. It allows you to understand yourself and others; to distance yourself from the hardships of growing up. It gives you knowledge that goes hand in hand with agency. Reading is to the brain what sport is to the body and therefore should be promoted as a healthy way of spending time, attractive and practiced regardless of gender, age, profession or interests.
I owe a lot to books and reading, but I also see how much it helps others at work every day – professionally and privately. Reading should be a part of everyone's life: it is a wonderful adventure that also builds us up. In addition, reading – both in terms of acquiring hard knowledge, but also in the context of communication skills, if only because of expanding your vocabulary – offers many benefits – says Łukasz Dominiak, psychologist, creator of the “Who's Your Daddy” profile.
As part of the #TataTeżCzyta2024 campaign a guide for parents and guardians was created "Supermoc książki #TataTeżCzyta2024" by Maria Deskur and Edyta Plich, with illustrations by Joanna Rusinek. It is a compendium of knowledge about why it is worth reading to children. The authors of the guide, supported by research and an extensive bibliography, suggest what reading gives to a child at each stage of development and recommend what readings will be appropriate for the age. In the printed version (circulation of 55,000 copies), the publication will be available free of charge in selected bookstores, public libraries, kindergartens, schools, and cultural institutions of partner cities. The guide can also be downloaded free of charge in a PDF file from the website TataTeżCzyta.pl
The National Reading Development Programme 2.0 aims to reach out to, among others:
families with a strong message about the value of reading. That's why we support the #TataTeżCzyta campaign
– it is important for fathers, grandfathers and brothers to be involved in family rituals, and reading together is undoubtedly one of those positive habits that build bonds family – comments Professor Rafał Wiśniewski, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Culture.
It is worth emphasizing that depending on the age of the child, shared reading changes and fulfills different functions. In the first months of life, a book is just a pretext for contact, because it is the contact with a child that is most important. And it is worth building it through reading, because it perfectly stimulates the brain. For preschool children, reading together (and talking about what we have read) is a great preparatory exercise for social life. In the first grades of primary school, a child learns to read, so that they can then read independently, so that they can learn. Reading is the most important and irreplaceable tool that makes all subsequent education possible. – strongly adds Edyta Plich, co-author of the guide, president of the Edico Foundation. In pre-teen and teenage years, it is still worth reading aloud together, because reading together means common matters and an opportunity to talk. Reading to children at this age is entering into a relationship, taming emotions, taking care of the bond.
Reading together with a child by a father or grandfather and the accompanying conversation around the story is invaluable. It builds a bond, creates a space for sharing emotions and dreams, provides common experiences. It is also a field for starting many important conversations about the world around children. It is difficult to express how fundamental this can be for the entire future of this relationship. – concludes Joanna Flis, psychologist, author of the podcast “Madame Monday”.
Authorities also read and encourage reading
This year's edition of the campaign is supported not only by famous fathers and grandfathers, but also by women - mothers and partners - who sign the initiative of the Powszechnego Czytania Foundation and the Tatarak publishing house and unanimously encourage: let #TataTeżCzyta! The ambassadors of the campaign are: actresses Katarzyna Zielinska, Anna Czartoryska-Niemczycka and Anna Dereszowska, Magda Kordaszewska – therapist, creator of the Zabawkowicz.pl website and organizer of the “Toy of the Year” plebiscite, and Joanna Flis – psychologist, author of the podcast “Madame Monday”. Among the gentlemen supporting the campaign were: Jan Dabrowski, youtuber known as JDabrowsky, Kamil Nowak – creator of the blog Blogojciec.pl and educator; Marcin Perfuński – journalist, editor, author of the blog Supertata.tv; Lukasz "Juras" Jurkowski – sports journalist and commentator, MMA and taekwondo competitor, Dr. Kamil Janowicz – psychologist, researcher, author of the Father_ing blog, Lukasz Dominiak – instagramer dad (Who's Your Daddy); Wieslaw Nowobilski – head of the renovation team of the “Our New Home” program and Maciej Pertkiewicz – architect, member of the team of the program "Our New Home".
Reading is a very important part of my profession, I live texts, as it were. But I also see how much they build our competences in establishing relationships, understanding people. In today's busy world, such a moment of pause, with a child, reading and talking together, should be an important ritual for every father. I totally support it. – adds Katarzyna Zielińska.
As a parent, I know how important books are in children's development. I love reading and I believe that reading is good for everyone! For children, spending time together with a book is primarily closeness and fun, which in the future will result in the invaluable habit of reading for pleasure, which makes it easy to acquire knowledge, develops curiosity about the world, and gives freedom! I remember well how important the evenings were for me when my dad read to me before going to sleep, which is why I am an ambassador for the All Poland Reads to Children campaign and I am happy to join the call: let #TataTeżCzyta!– says Anna Czartoryska-Niemczycka.
#TataIt also reads in the library, outdoors, on the radio and on the Internet
The organizers of the #TataTeżCzyta campaign invited leading Polish distributors and publishers to cooperate. Thanks to their support, the guide for parents and guardians "Superpower of books #TataTeżCzyta2024" in a printed version will be available in selected bookstores and libraries throughout Poland. Distribution partners and publishers are also actively involved in promoting the campaign on their social media channels.
As part of the campaign, the Universal Reading Foundation and the Tatarak publishing house also encourage librarians, primary school and kindergarten teachers to organize the #TataTeżCzyta w Biblioteka campaign. On the website TataTeżCzyta.pl there were, among other things, lesson plans for children that can be used during lessons. There was also an expert webinar for librarians and teachers.
The #TataTeżCzyta campaign is accompanied by a spot featuring the campaign ambassadors, which will be broadcast on advertising media in PKP trains, CTV and WP Group services, among others. Additionally, the campaign will be promoted by an outdoor campaign, broadcasting of commercials on the radio, a campaign in social media and influencer marketing.
This year's campaign will last until June 23, when Father's Day is celebrated. The timing of the campaign is not accidental – it is also Mother's Day and Children's Day, which are often accompanied by events aimed at the youngest, with the participation of parents and guardians, which can be an excellent opportunity to promote reading. The campaign formula is completely open. Everyone can get involved! The organizers invite you to participate, as well as download and use the materials available on the website TataTeżCzyta.pl The first edition of the #TataTeżCzyta campaign last year involved many institutions, media, influencers and local governments. Users of social media were eager to co-create content as part of the open formula of the campaign – over 2,000 posts were published under the hashtag #TataTeżCzyta. The number of views of materials related to the campaign exceeded 5,000,000, and the brochure “The Superpower of Books: TataTeżCzyta” was distributed in 35,000 copies.
Link to the spot: https://youtu.be/6dTX92a4NdM
Link to the guide "The Superpower of Books #TataTeżCzyta2024":
https://fpc.org.pl/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/TTCZ24_broszura_pl_www.pdf
The campaign was co-financed by the EU Creative Europe programme and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Culture and National Heritage.
Campaign page: www.TataTezCzyta.pl
Campaign organizers:
The Universal Reading Foundation and Tatarak Publishing House
Honorary patronage:
National Library, National Centre for Culture, National Reading Development Programme 2.0
Project partners:
City of Warsaw, Union of Polish Metropolises, City of Krakow, Krakow Festival Office, Krakow UNESCO City of Literature, City of Zakopane, City of Gdansk, City of Wroclaw, Wroclaw House of Literature, Wroclaw UNESCO City of Literature, City of Poznan, Poznan Benefits Center – Family Initiatives Center, Hestia Literary Journey, Olga Tokarczuk Foundation, CzasDzieci.pl, Center for Civic Education, Night of Libraries, FRSI, Alternative Reading List, Share the Care Foundation, Polish Chamber of Books, Mamy to! Bookstore, Foods by Ann Anna Lewandowska, Levann Supplements, Nowa Era, Tato.net, Legimi, OTOFILM, Brain, Artur Sokół, Selectivv, Love Brands Group, COS Torwar, Legia Fight Club, Forbes Woman, Noizz, Onet, Ofemini, Medonet, GroupM, SAR Marketing Communication Association
Companion collection producer:
Overword.com
Distribution partners:
Platon, Ateneum, OSDW Azymut, Empik, Gandalf.com.pl, Książnica Polska, Liber SA, motyleksiazkowe.pl, PWN Online Bookstore, Świat Książki Bookstores, swiatksiazki.pl, Świat Prasy, taniaksiazka.pl, tantis.pl, WSiP, Znak Bookstore
Sponsors of the paper edition:
Abedik, Perfekt, Drukarnia Anczyca, Drukarnia SOWA, ArtDruk, Drukarnia Leyko, Europapier, Burgo Group, Follak i Rk Polska
Publishers recommending books in the project:
Agora for children, Albus, Babaryba, BookOjciec, Druganoga, Dwie Siostry, Colon, Egmont, Entliczek, Aesop, Format, Frajda, HarperCollins, Hokus-pokus, Literature, Mamania, Media Rodzina, Mięta, Toadstool, Museum of Gdańsk, No bell, Papilon, Polar Fox, Powergraph, Prószyński i S-ka, PWN, Świetlik, Tako, Tatarak, Widnokrąg, Wilga, Wolno, BIS Publishing House, Jung-Off-Ska Publishing House, Olesiejuk Publishing House, Wytwórnia, Zakamarki, Zielona Sowa, Znak Emotikon, Zygzaki
