by Empathylab
On Empathy Day, as we absorb this week’s sobering research from the National Literacy Trust, we want to highlight reading for empathy as a fresh approach to tackling the reading for pleasure crisis.
In our work with schools, where reading for empathy practices are embedded, 87% of teachers report an increase in children and young people reading enjoyment. Our Impact – EmpathyLabUK
The reasons for this positive impact on reading enjoyment are:
- Focusing on characters and feelings rather than plot profoundly affects the desire to read on, as children are absorbed by the human connection
- Empathy-focussed book talk encourages different perspectives on the same story to be shared and explored, building social cohesion and enjoyment
- Diverse, contemporary books inspire curiosity and connection, and celebrate difference, helping young people navigate the world around them, and making reading more meaningful
It isn’t an either / or in terms of reading for pleasure or reading for empathy. To tackle this crisis we need to push forward on all fronts, and reading for empathy can be a hugely powerful and accessible, way to make real change in how young people respond to, and perceive, reading.
If you would like to hear more about the ways in which reading for empathy can be harnessed for change, we invite you to save the date to attend our Raising Generation Empathy conference on 27 November. In partnership with the University of Sussex, we will be sharing their latest research, alongside examples of practice from teachers, librarians and authors, to further explore the power of reading to develop real life empathy. Through this landmark event we aim to shape a new agenda to scale and embed empathy education into the curricula and culture of formal and informal learning settings.
Find out more and book tickets here: https://www.surveyhero.com/c/yii4zieg
