Nearly half of parents allow their children to choose books themselves, and 70% reads to their children at least once a week – this is shown by the results of the SW Research study commissioned by the Lajkonik brand. Adults see this activity primarily as a chance to develop their children's creativity and language skills. Schools can play a key role in this process, supporting conscious choice of reading material and helping children discover the joy of reading.
Regular reading is one of the key elements supporting a child's development. Even 20 minutes of reading to a child every day is enough for them to acquire about 1.8 million words in a year*. Such a habit strengthens cognitive and language skills, and also develops the ability to concentrate and expands vocabulary.
Lajkonik is a partner of the "Reader of Reading" program - an initiative of the Universal Reading Foundation, whose mission is to support students and teachers by promoting effective methods of popularizing reading in schools and libraries, as well as building an expert community. In cooperation with the SW Research agency, Lajkonik, together with the Universal Reading Foundation, conducted a study showing that more than one in three parents (37%) read to their child several times a week, and seven out of ten parents do it at least once a week. Adults see many benefits in this activity, primarily the opportunity to develop creativity, and Lajkonik, guided by the slogan of the sustainable development strategy "In Care of People and Planet", emphasizes that reading develops intellectual and emotional capabilities and supports building intergenerational bonds.
- Books not only develop language skills and stimulate the imagination, but also become a tool that helps children cope with stress and build their emotional intelligence. – explains Katarzyna Konopka, the Universal Reading Foundation. – Daily reading, even in short, several-minute sessions, brings tangible results, supporting the development of concentration and broadening the child's horizons. Reading therefore becomes an important educational element, but also a form of building family bonds.
- We are glad that so many parents are discovering the benefits of reading together with their children, treating it not only as a time for development, but also for building closeness. At Lajkonik, we believe that the joy of reading is an important aspect in the proper development and supporting young generations in shaping curiosity about the world and empathy. That is why we were happy to take part in this initiative – says Joanna Sterna, Senior Brand Manager of the Lajkonik brand.
Reading develops imagination and enriches vocabulary
When asked what the most important advantages of reading to children are, parents most often indicated the development of imagination and creativity (62%). The next places, with a very similar number of indications, were occupied by: enriching vocabulary and language skills (60%) and strengthening emotional bonds (59%). Less than half of the respondents noticed the importance of reading for shaping concentration and reducing stress (43.5%), as well as developing logical thinking and analytical skills (41.1%).
When asked about inspiration for choosing books, parents most often indicated the choice of books by their own children (49%). Every third respondent uses recommendations from friends or family (34%), and a slightly smaller group (32%) chooses items related to topics from school or kindergarten. 28% respondents draw inspiration from recommendations from other parents.
- Reading books from the first months of life is extremely important, it allows for the proper development of speech, teaches understanding emotions and helps build the habit of daily reading. – comments Katarzyna Konopka, Universal Reading Foundation, and adds – Later, this friendship with books can be continued in kindergarten or school. We want learning to read independently to be associated with pleasure. Hence our fourth edition of the Reading Rescuers campaign, under the slogan "Joy flows from reading". Free training materials, substantive support from experts, webinars or meetings promoting children's literature can encourage principals and teachers to organize activities promoting reading among children.
How to read with a child?
How can you easily and effectively read books with your children? It is worth starting the process as early as possible. Even in infants, reading aloud supports the child's development and strengthens their bond with their parents. At first, the child will be able to focus on reading for a few minutes. This is quite enough - later this time should be gradually extended. While reading, it is worth imitating different voices, asking the child questions, and also letting them turn the pages. A child whose parents read and talk to them understands twice as many words at the age of three than children whose parents
they did not offer this gift**
Another good idea is to go to the library or bookstore together and let your child choose what they want to read. Research by the University of Sussex shows that just 6 minutes of reading helps reduce stress levels by over 60% - it slows down the heart, reduces muscle tension, and calms the mind***. Interestingly, in the latter case, reading is more effective than listening to music, going for a walk or playing a computer game. So isn't it worth finding time to read now?
More about the campaign: https://www.ratownicyczytelnictwa.pl
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Source: The study was conducted by SW Research using the online interview method (CAWI) on behalf of the Lajkonik brand as part of the partnership with the “Reader of Reading” program run by the Universal Reading Foundation, on a group of 421 parents of children aged 7-11, October 1–5, 2024.
* Nagy, W. E., Anderson, R. C., & Herman, P. A. (1987). Learning word meanings from context during normal reading. American Educational Research Journal, 24(2), 237–270. https://doi.org/10.2307/1162893
**Hart, B., & Risley, T. R. (1995). Meaningful differences in the everyday experience of young American children. Paul H Brookes Publishing.
***Lewis, D. (2009) Galaxy Stress Research. Mindlab International, Sussex University, East Sussex.
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Lajkonik – Lajkonik products baked in Skawina near Krakow are snacks that have been accompanying families for generations. The perfect crunchiness and simple composition make the taste of Lajkonik legendary and unique – it is loved by consumers all over Poland. The brand's offer includes sticks, crackers, slices, pretzels, Mini Crackers, Junior products and products from the Dobry Chrup line. The company's goal is to provide snacks that combine Joy of Life and Responsibility.
www.lajkonik.pl
The Universal Reading Foundation has been working for 6 years to improve the state of Polish reading and combat the exclusion of citizens. It treats non-reading as a contemporary social problem. It wants to reach families and communities of people who do not read at all. The aim of the Foundation is for every Polish child to have equal educational opportunities, which is greatly influenced by regular contact with books. The Foundation's activities focus on helping excluded children, educating leaders and supporting parents. The most important FPC campaigns include Reading Rescuers, Book on Prescription. Recipe for Success, Book Protects and the nationwide social campaign #TataTeżCzyta. FPC is the initiator of the informal coalition Reading Poland, within which the publication "Reading School - Reflections on the Functioning of Books in School" was developed.