Books have always been part of our Christmas gift-giving tradition with our kids. I wanted our kids to grow up with a love of reading and while I know toys are part of the fun of Christmas day, adding books into the mix was super important. Adding books to the kids’ Christmas gifts signals to them that they are as special as the other items they receive on Christmas day.
Kym Simoncini, an Associate professor of Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Canberra notes:
A 2011 report from the UK showed the number of young people who say they own a book is decreasing. The report also showed a clear relationship between receiving books as presents and reading ability. Children who said they had never been given a book as a present were more likely to be reading below the expected level for their age.
In a world now biased towards tech and online activities making sure you have plenty of books in the house as an option for kids is critical not only for a love of reading but also for their education. A study that looked at data from 27 countries, including Australia, found children growing up in homes with many books got three years more education than children from bookless homes. This was independent of their parents’ education, occupation and class.
So as you are thinking of Christmas gifts for the kids this year, make sure books are part of it. And as parents the best thing we can do is role model reading and make sure we add a book to our Christmas list for summer reading too!
Massive Puffin Book Christmas Giveaway
Thanks to the team at Puffin I have a fabulous Puffin Book Christmas Giveaway. It includes an all-new Bluey book, Bluey: 12 Days of Christmas, a Bluey: Merry Christmas: A Colouring Book (a fun-filled sticker activity book) which will be perfect to keep the young ones occupied on your Christmas road trip.
There is also a heartwarming picture book from Melina Marchetta in Zola and the Christmas Lights. Some Christmas rhyming fun in Meerkat Christmas by Aura Parker. You can find out all of Peter Rabbit’s favourite things about Christmas in Peter Rabbit: Happy Christmas Peter. And join The Very Hungry Caterpillar as he explores a winter wonderland on Christmas Eve in The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Night Before Christmas. Or commemorate the festive season with Eric Hill’s classic Christmas tale in a special board book edition of Spot’s First Christmas – the perfect stocking filler for little ones. Plus a gorgeous GIANT Puffin rug (as seen in the photo)!
- A GIANT Puffin rug!
- Bluey: 12 Days of Christmas
- Bluey: Merry Christmas: A Colouring Book
- Spot’s First Christmas by Eric Hill
- Peppa Pig: Peppa and the Christmas Elf
- Peter Rabbit: Happy Christmas Peter by Beatrix Potter
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Night Before Christmas by Eric Carle
- Mr Men Little Miss The Christmas Elf by Roger Hargreaves
- Zola and the Christmas Lights by Melina Marchetta
- Meerkat Christmas by Aura Parker
Good luck!