38 Why is reading essential?
Jahtae Madrigal
English 101
5/2/2024
Why is reading essential?
Since social media has been introduced to most of the world, people have grown addicted and obsessed with their phones and what seems like wholly forgotten about reading an actual paperback novel. Although audiobooks are available, they are not sufficient enough like reading at really grabbing your attention. For example, once you start reading, on whatever device someone might choose, imagine getting a notification from a friend and then getting distracted, and you stop reading to respond now you are an hour deep chatting instead of focusing on what you are reading. Reading is essential for many reasons, such as improved memory, reduced stress, and improved brain functions and cognitive skills, however, I will stick to a few so that you can get an idea.
Reading allows for advanced brain function and growth and builds cognitive skills for all ages; according to neuroscientists at Emory University in Atlanta, “reading a gripping novel makes changes in the way the brain connects with different circuits (ABC News Network).” Although the changes reading creates in the brain may not be permanent, they can last for at least five days, suggesting that the benefits from reading last longer than the act itself.” This shows that reading is exercising your brain, and like you would exercise in the gym, you will start to build muscle. Reading allows you to explore your imagination, and not only that, but you will need to have strong grammar and vocabulary in almost any profession one might choose to go into.
For those who suffer from anxiety or depression, it is proven that reading can positively affect you, and you will start to notice that these disorders will begin to become less and less of a burden on you. When you read you tend to be in your own world, and some people might say reading is tedious or time-consuming, still, once you find a book that you can enjoy, you can become more imaginative which might distract your brain from anything that is causing you to be depressed or anxious. A 2009 study from Mindlab International at the University of Sussex found that “Reading was able to reduce stress levels by 68%. That made it more effective than other soothing activities like taking a walk or listening to music (Mindlab)”. Whenever I find myself becoming stressed, and I try going on a walk, I am usually still thinking about what was making me stressed in the first place, or when I listen to music, it might have the same depressing energy which is not going to help take my mind off of the stress however, once I start reading my favorite books I can immediately enter a whole new reality that brings me peace and happiness. Besides the fact that reading is an excellent way to destress, reading is also beneficial for those with ADHD. People who suffer from this disorder tend to find it harder to concentrate and retain the information they were given. Studies show, “Today, ADHD is becoming more prevalent due to a rise in stress levels at all ages… which is treatable through psychotherapy and raising concentration levels (Tisavipat).” Although it may be hard to start reading if you have ADHD and have a hard time holding concentration like myself, once you get into the groove and start reading at least five minutes a day and work your way up to twenty minutes, it will begin to become accessible, and you will start to notice you’re training your mind to be able to focus on anything. I believe the more reading that is practiced whether it be a fiction novel, an article, or even a newspaper, the more educated and intellectual people can become.
If you start your kids young with reading, it can prepare them for when they begin to work on their language skills, and they may even become advanced in school. Studies show that “Reading to young children is proven to improve cognitive skills and help along the process of cognitive development (All4kids)”. Not only is this effective for language skills, but it also stimulates brain growth for kids and trains them to become attentive when they start school. The article, All4kids, also states how reading expands your vocabulary and language skills development, “Reading daily to young children can help with language acquisition, communication skills, social skills, and literacy skills. This is because reading to your children in the earliest months stimulates the part of the brain that allows them to understand the meaning of language and helps build key language…” I believe reading should be the first thing introduced to children rather than phones and tablets since they are being distracted and, like most, it starts off as a bad habit that cannot be swayed and it ends with being addicted to the phones and may not want to pick up a book afterward. Have you heard of the phrase “iPad kids”? If not, an iPad kid is glued to the iPad or phone and wants to do nothing but watch videos and play games all day, and once taken away from them, some tend to throw a fit. It is not always a negative thing to be called an “Ipad kid”; however, if you look around at what kids are watching and getting attached to, such as CocoMelon, a children’s channel that is meant for learning, which has been proven to the the exact opposite and instead of improving their skills with communication or language it does the opposite. According to (Mayer), “In 2011, researchers found that watching nine minutes of fast-paced programming could impair a child’s executive function, which is the set of cognitive skills needed for self-control and behavior management (Mayer)”. This shows that a lot of “learning channels” made for kids are not very informative and does not teach kids about what is essential.
In conclusion, focusing on hard copy literature is essential to everyone, and I strongly encourage people to be open to reading more often, even if it is for five minutes. Reading has many benefits, and it pushes you to think and exercise your brain to get a full understanding of what you are reading. Reading reduces stress and anxiety but improves brain and cognitive functions and
Movement, World Humanitarian. “Influence of Reading to Children on Early Language Development.” WOHM | Changing Children’s Lives, 8 Mar. 2024, wohum.org/influence-of-reading-to-children-on-early-language-development/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw57exBhAsEiwAaIxaZt-r66TpfIPQCp6Y8Oz-48sl7JHJWujuRI-rzCDcDvKeG48xJgHR2hoCVKUQAvD_BwE.
https://cei.pressbooks.pub/openobjects/chapter/why-is-reading-essential/