Form a Family Book Club This Holiday Season

"At this time of year, as families across the globe gather together to celebrate the season, we often find ourselves reminiscing about our own childhoods and our family traditions. One of my fondest childhood memories is my mother reading me stories at bedtime. Memories of the comfort of being together and the excitement of the story led to my becoming an avid reader throughout my life."

"Cozying up with a book is still one of my favorite activities, not least because it brings back so many positive memories across the years. Creating these kinds of family memories is foundational for helping our children build more positive, empathic relationships-perhaps this holiday season, you can give your family the gift of reading by forming a family book club."

"Unfortunately, it seems we are reading less than ever. The New York Times, among many other media sources, reports that kids in the United States rarely read books anymore, even in English class in school. They read short stories, excerpts, and essays, but not full books, cover to cover, savoring the intricacies of character and plot. This is a huge loss, not just for the simple joy of reading, but because we know that reading novels builds critical social and cognitive skills."

"In a meta-analysis, examining the results of more than a dozen studies, Dodell-Feder and Tamir found that individuals who read fiction show better social and cognitive skills than nonreaders-they are better able to take the perspective of others, they are better able to identify others' thoughts and emotions, and they are better able to feel what others are feeling. All of these are fundamental skills for creating and maintaining more positive personal relationships, as well as a more positive sense of self in the world."

Forming a family book club can instill a lifelong love of reading and recreate comforting childhood memories that strengthen family bonds. Reading fiction cultivates social and cognitive skills, including perspective-taking, emotion recognition, and empathic response. Current reading habits show declines, with many children rarely reading full books and missing the depth of character and plot. Meta-analytic evidence shows fiction readers outperform nonreaders on social understanding tasks and emotional insight. Shared reading experiences can promote more positive personal relationships and a healthier sense of self in children and adults alike.

Read at Psychology Today