Why do we share literature with children?
There are truly too many reasons to name, but let's talk about some of the most important reasons we have a responsibility to share literature with chidren.
First of all, we share literature with children because it's fun! Reading is such a joyous, fun, and intriguing experience that can truly be an adventure for kids. Aside from the reading itself, the cover art, illustrations, character development, and dialogue from the book, among other things, is so much fun for kids! We also strive to share literature with youth to aid in the acquisition of language and language development among kids. I consider myself to be a strong speller, reader, and writer, and I definitely attribute much of this success to the fact that I was always reading as a kid. The development and awareness of a wide range of vocabulary is truly fostered by reading a lot.
One of the main reasons it's so important for us to share books with kids is because it develops empathy. I always say that every novel I read helps me to find out something about someone else, and something about myself. It truly allows the children of our world to development empathetic bonds with the characters in the books they read, and therefore they can relate that situation to their daily lives out in the real world as well. It's so important that we develop lifelong readers so that they continue to learn these lessons, and they eventually share it with the children of their world, too. Similarly, it's vital that they have an opportunity to read about characters or people that they can relate to. Reading about someone that is like you is such an important aspect of literature; it helps us to not feel alone, and it allows us to learn more about ourselves without feeling like a complete outcast!
Another purpose that literature can serve for kids is to allow them to form their own opinions about issues in the world. Reading gives them the opportunity to "philosophically speculate" about things going on in the world simply by reading about similar situations. It gives them a chance to answer those big life questions: why am I here? What is my purpose on earth?
Literature also develops the imagination and helps readers to think outside of the box. For example, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter can open up the minds of readers and force us to enter into a new realm that we never knew existed. It allows us to go to a new place of imagination and creativity! This can help kids be inventors and creative thinkers in all aspects of life!
Lastly, literature can truly transmit culture. It can help us to learn about new cultures, different qualities of life, religions, traditions, and economies. For kids, this is vital. If you don't learn about what's going on around the world, you can form well rounded opinions, build empathy, or fully understand other cultures. This purpose ties together many of the others and encourages us as future librarians to make sure we are providing a wide ranger of variety and diverse books.
The truth is, we could go on forever listing reasons why it's important to share literature with children. It's so important on so many levels. Reading allows us to relate to each other no matter how many differences we have, and that's what makes it so special. Reading gives us the opportunity to jump into the life of someone else and experience the feelings and events that we may not have the opportunity to otherwise experience.
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