READAXATION

Reading for Wellbeing: Creating Future Learners

with Nicola Morgan

www.nicolamorgan.com

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What is Readaxation?

Reading for pleasure – but with knobs on

“Reading to relax, as a deliberate strategy for wellbeing and stress management.”

Readaxation involves “engagement” or “flow”

Relaxation is not a luxury but vital for health, performance and wellbeing: creating future learners

How does it improve wellbeing?

(Research variable in power )• Self-esteem; greater life satisfaction• Increasing vocab and general knowledge• Increasing empathy + self-understanding• Reducing stress – Less measurable research, but good arguments

and high likelihood:

What are those arguments?

• Readers believe it’s relaxing – my survey• Allows “engagement”, “flow”• Chance to forget worries – a CBT effect• Bibliotherapy – a long history

• Clinical bibliotherapy – self-help and fiction• Developmental bibliotherapy - fiction

– Identification with character => insight + growth

Does it matter what we read?

• No but yes• Need to have engagement

• But every choice makes a difference to our brain – physically

• Reading changes our brain and so ourselves

• Choices of reading make a difference

The choices

Interesting differences between:• Simple/complex texts• Digital/print– Online: distractions; no engagement? – E-readers: IF no distraction; IF can engage

• Fiction/non-fiction– Empathy; self-knowledge + emotional areas– Narrative transportation -> engagement

How do we make it happen?

• Victor Nell (1988) The psychology of reading for pleasure: Needs and gratifications. “Unless people experience reading as a pleasurable activity, they will stop reading and choose more enjoyable alternatives.”

“Motivational Flowchart”

Wahhh! A FLOWCHART!

1. Nell’s “Motivational Flowchart”

If Adequate skills + Correct book selection + Expectation of benefit => Will try pleasure reading If physiological + cognitive benefits ensue: more pleasure reading. If not, other activity.

Possible benefits

• You feel less stressed• You can switch off from worries • Helps you get to sleep • Helps you understand other people better • Helps you face and understand difficult times • Helps you know more about the world – including facts • Improves imagination/creativity • Helps you succeed better at school • Increases vocabulary • Improves confidence and self-esteem

2. Properly value it

• Remember: relaxation is not a luxury• This pleasure has no negative and lots of

positive side-effects

CAUTION:Children who read a

lot risk becoming independent, open-

minded, questioning, knowledgeable and

CONFIDENT

3. Make time for it

In summary

• Relaxation is not a luxury but necessary for health and wellbeing

• Readaxation is not the only way to relax but has many added benefits

So, how can we help?

• Know our role in Nell’s flowchart • Educate funders and senior management: a)

reading for pleasure is a highly effective way to wellbeing and b) this CANNOT HAPPEN WITHOUT SCHOOL LIBRARY SERVICES

• Do it ourselves

Our brains are in our hands