A Home Library Can Add Years To A Child’s Education

We all know it’s important to read to your child. The benefits in terms of language development, creativity and task focus are well documented. However, recent research by the Australian National University demonstrates the surprisingly powerful impact of surrounding adolescents with books. It has an effect on their life-long tastes, skills and knowledge.

Data from more than 160,000 adults showed that a child who grows up with a home library of 80 books or more shows higher adult competency in literacy, numeracy and information communication technology.

The impact of reading and book-orientated socialisation is greater than the benefits accrued from parental education, own education or occupational attainment. In fact, the research shows that a home library adds years of educational attainment to a child. A person who leaves school at 14 and grew up with books attains the same levels of literacy as a university graduate who did not grow up with a home library.

The impact points not only to the power of reading but of a scholarly culture within the home.

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