The reasons why reading to your child can save their life!
Science has shown that in the first seven years of our lives, we are programmed on how we will learn and react to the world for the rest of our lives. So, getting a strong start in programming habits that will help us is vital so we can have a fulfilling and confident life. Unfortunately, traumas are a part of that programming and books can really save the lives of children.
I’m not being over dramatic here! The trauma you experience during those beginning years can make a huge impact and reading to your children books can really make them understand themselves and the world around them. The books you choose are important as well. Books that are full of positive messages and images are nice but there is an area of literature called Bibliotherapy that can be even more beneficial to children, than the Disney type versions. Especially, to the children who have experienced some kind of trauma. Bibliotherapy is a creative arts therapies modality that involves storytelling or the reading of specific texts with the purpose of healing. It uses an individual’s relationship to the content of books and poetry and other written words as therapy.
Sadly, we as a society, are living in a trauma-ridden environment and that does affect the mental state of your children daily. Through interactions with other children who are being traumatized, the media, that sends them messages while they are in the
theta state, and ourselves, our children get bombarded with negativity. Yes, parents we subconsciously traumatizing our children. Not because we want to, but because we are not conscious of our own programming from those first seven years.
So choosing the correct books can really help reprogram not only our children but
ourselves. Here’s how to understand bibliotherapy and positively program those little
computers we love so much!
1. Firstly, reading gives your children the intellectual advantage to succeed in life. Reading to your children at home before entering school can give them an advantage when they start school. They can be ahead of the game by you just simply reading to them aloud. They can’t read the words yet but can follow the story through illustrations.
2. Reading to children can help them develop empathy. Do you ever wonder what’s going on with the school children these days? Well, I’ll tell you! They lack empathy. The children’s entertainment they are watching lack kindness and compassion when they are problem-solving. Books help children put themselves in the position of the character who is dealing with a challenging situation. This is why using books that deal with traumatic issues is vital. Maybe your child hasn’t experienced it for themselves but what a great way to develop empathy for those who have.
3. Reading is a much better form of entertainment than TV. As I mentioned before, TV has taken on a negative form of programming and this is when our children are the most vulnerable. From birth to about seven years of age, our children live in the theta state of brain waves. This particular frequency range is involved in daydreaming and sleep. Theta waves are connected to us experiencing and feeling deep and raw emotions. Have you ever tried to stop your child from watching TV and you get the most epic of tantrums? Well, this is why! Too much theta activity may make you prone to bouts of depression and make them “highly suggestible” based on the fact that they are in a deeply relaxed, semi-hypnotic state. You know, that dramatic statement that your child makes, “I will just die if I don’t get that cool toy!”, they just saw on the constant loops of toy commercials on children’s “programming.” That’s why they call it programming! Theta does have its benefits of helping improve our intuition, creativity, and makes us feel more natural. It is also involved in restorative sleep. As long as theta isn’t produced in excess during our waking hours, it is a very helpful brain wave range. You can get those benefits by reading to your child aloud every night. It’s basically how I started writing bibliotherapy books.
4. Reading together with your child creates a bond. There’s nothing better than cuddling up with your child and reading them a beautiful story. Reading with your child one of our bibliotherapy books will create a lifelong bond. It’s a way for you to change your energy after a long and stressful day.
Books like Galaxy’s Whale can stimulate beautiful and REAL discussions that can prepare you and your child for the world outside your loving bubble of security. Give your child the tools to succeed by reading to them every day and make the stories ones that can help them manage this real life.
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