Parents agree that books can help children understand the world around them and make sense of the events happening within it; they can serve as an invaluable tool for parents as they guide their children through these topics.
At Every Age
Books to explore the world and themselves
Even with this knowledge, still four in 10 parents of kids ages 6-17 (38%) report they do not always feel equipped to talk to their child about tough topics. Books are here to help.
“I think reading is a great way to facilitate discussions that may not have happened without being prompted.”
— Parent of an 8-year-old
who uses books to talk to their child about difficult topics.
How to: Use reading to help kids understand the world
If your child comes to you with a question
A book can be a great resource for them (and you!). Here’s a list of questions that can serve as great conversation starters, no matter the book or topic.
The Scholastic Parents site
The Scholastic Parents site is another great resource that empowers families and inspires readers of all ages and stages with a mix of curated book recommendations, expert advice, and support for your family’s ongoing reading journey.
Check the Scholastic social bookshelf
The Scholastic Social Bookshelf is a free and easily accessible resource that provides reading suggestions and helpful support across all ages on a variety of topics from peer pressure to self-esteem, empathy to happiness, diversity to technology and so many other topics in between.
Ask you child’s teacher, school or public librarian for suggestions
And as always, a great place to find the right book is to ask your child’s teacher, school or public librarian for suggestions. They may even have complementary discussion guides.
In addition to helping to understand the world, parents see books as both an instrumental tool that can help children understand themselves, and as a portal for their children to understand different points of view and experiences.
How to: Use reading to support kids’ understanding of themselves
Kids have so many different interests and there are books that delve into it all. Help your child explore the interests that make up who they are by seeking out books that cover those subjects and with characters who share their interests. Scholastic’s The Power of Story is a free, fantastic catalog and virtual platform filled with books featuring characters and stories from groups whose identities and lived experiences have been suppressed and excluded from mainstream narratives.
When you’re a kid, being different can be hard. Books can be the perfect tool for helping kids understand that what makes them different makes them amazing. Local bookshops, resources like Scholastic Book Clubs, the Scholastic Store’s extensive collection of books dedicated to diversity and inclusion, and school, classroom and community libraries are all great places to find books for your child to connect with, learn from, and look to as they grow into themselves.
In closing, and for more resources
For families, children’s books have super powers. Books can be a comfort, a portal to other places, a source of new information and a way to address tough topics, or just a joy! We hope from this guide you feel excited and confident in opening a book to build a bond and to support your child, and if you’re curious for more information on the research and resources mentioned above, enjoy exploring this full list:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Association for Library Services to Children
Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report