Books: a protective factor during tough times

Many of us have gladly retreated into a good book during stressful periods in our lives. But you might not know just how powerful books can be.

A group of researchers in Australia recently explored the factors related to children’s resilience in the face of abuse, neglect, or trauma. They discovered that children who were read to regularly at home had more than three times the odds of showing resilience than children who were not read to at home.

And we’ve seen positive impacts like that here in Washington, too. Access to books through our Book Up Summer program has functioned as a protective factor during the pandemic, which has knocked back students at all levels. Seattle low-income fourth graders who had participated in Book Up Summer in their K–2 years have slid back nearly four points less in their reading scores than their statewide low-income peers (a drop of 9.7 points for Seattle Book Up Summer students vs. 13.3 points for statewide low-income students).

As the authors of the Australian study say in their conclusion, “Children can be resilient, but need society’s assistance.” And they need books, too!