Cambridge researchers have revealed the activity children need to do to succeed in school. This activity will even help them to have better mental health!
Children need certain things to flourish and evolve peacefully. This goes through the education given to them by their parents, the relationship they have with them, the activities they do, outdoors or indoors… Researchers from the University of Cambridge have recently published a study which shows that a particular activity helps them to succeed academically. but also to have better mental health while growing up! Something to seduce parents…
It is an activity which is not unknown and which is rather easy to set up. Even if it is necessary to do according to the preferences of the children, everyone is different! This activity, which has therefore been revealed by a study and relayed by Psychologies, is reading, but not just any activity: reading for pleasure. In other words, it should not be imposed but rather that the children take pleasure in reading! We will explain everything to you.
What’s next after this ad
This activity must be practiced from an early age and frequently
Researchers from the University of Cambridge have therefore explained that reading must be practiced from an early age and frequently so that it is effective in the long term. Their study was conducted on 10,000 young adolescents in the United States and the result is clear: those who began to read often between the ages of 2 and 9 have a better mental health and better concentration skills in particular. The benefits are also seen in many other areas: they make friends with others more easily, they sleep better and they manage their screen time better than others.
Professor and Study Director Barbara Sahakian explained: “Reading is not only a pleasant experience – it inspires reflection and creativity, increases empathy and reduces stress. But on top of that, we found significant evidence that it is linked to important developmental factors in children, improving their cognition, mental health and brain structure, which are building blocks for learning and future well-being.” No need to read too much, because as Professor Barbara Sahakian explains: “The optimal amount of reading for enjoyment as a young child was about 12 hours per week. Beyond that, there seemed to be no added benefit.” Many positive points on this activity rather easy to set up and which could well change the life of your child!
Parenting writer
Zoé is on a work-study program, she joined the aufeminin team in September 2022, she writes for the parenting section. Committed and curious, Zoé likes to write to advance…