In recent years, DCC students have been used to celebrating World Book Days with scenes like this – staff dressed as some of their favourite book characters, and students completing quizzes and challenges to win prizes based around their teachers’ favourite books. Of course, this year things will be very different but we are still celebrating World Book Day and the powerful effect that reading can have on our mental health.
Scientific studies have shown for many years the positive effect that reading can have on academic attainment, but there are so many other positives to it besides helping students to achieve better grades in school, including the evidence that it can reduce stress AND combat the symptoms of depression. The positive effect reading can have on our mental health really cannot be underestimated, and this is especially important given the difficulties we have all faced over the past 12 months.
Unsurprisingly, the boredom and anxiety that some young people have experienced during lockdown has seen more and more of them reading for pleasure. After all, there are only so many times they can practice their new Tik Tok moves!
The Literacy Trust has carried out a study of nearly 60,000 people aged 11-18 about their attitudes to reading in Lockdown. Over 60% of those surveyed said that reading had made them feel better “overall” during the 2020 Lockdown, and just over 30% said specifically that reading had helped them to deal with missing their friends and family members.
Here at DCC we are still promoting a love of literature throughout college, despite the lockdown, and we can’t wait to welcome students back through the doors in the coming days to celebrate with us – already there has been an online quiz to identify the Mystery Staff Readers and there will be prizes to win, other competitions to enter and book tokens to spend waiting for students upon their return.
If you would like to try and guess the mystery readers watch our assembly video below and submit your answers through the link. Happy Reading!