The Importance Of Literacy

Most people know literacy as being able to read and write, however, there is so much more to it. In this blog we will be discussing what literacy is and why it is such a crucial part of our lives. We will also share a few tips on improving literary and some resources to help with that.

Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that allows us to express our thoughts, ideas and feelings clearly and efficiently. Lacking literacy skills can close many doors for us – from slowing children down in school, limiting employment opportunities to making it more difficult to connect with people and ourselves. Literary Trust statistic’s tell us that “children who enjoy reading are three times more likely to have good mental wellbeing than children who don’t enjoy it”*, and to be able to enjoy reading one first must know how to read.

Creative writing or journalling is a great tool for young people to put their thoughts in order and therefore process them better. Literary Trust statistics also report that daily free-time writing levels for children and young people are at their lowest rate since Literary Trust began asking the question in 2010, with only 1 in 7 (15.2%) children writing in 2021.** This suggests that despite the clear benefits of writing and reading children and young people aren’t as involved with literacy as they used to be.

For adults and young people alike it’s becoming increasingly difficult to stay focused on one task at a time. In many cases it’s far more appealing to young people and children to watch films and series, or videos on popular apps such as Youtube or TikTok, rather than to sit down with a book or a notepad to write. In addition, not every household has the resources to buy books or writing materials. Luckily, many communities have access to free library books, and schools sometimes have libraries from which children can borrow books too. Reading and writing challenges, with small prizes such as stickers, can be a good incentive to encourage children to take part in literacy activities.

Resources:

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but with a collective effort we can help children and adults improve their literacy.

Please visit https://cardiffhubs.co.uk/ for information about libraries in the Cardiff area that offer events, activities and most importantly free access to books!

For Vale of Glamorgan libraries visit https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/en/enjoying/Libraries/Find-Your-Local-Library.aspx

If you would like some assistance finding your local library, please send us an email or send us a message.

References used in this blog:

*https://literacytrust.org.uk/information/what-is-literacy/

** https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-and-young-peoples-writing-in-2021/

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/02/attention-span-focus-screens-apps-smartphones-social-media

Blog article written by Aleksandra Dul and photo by Antoni Shraba.