09 Oct Author brings rhyme to help schoolchildren thrive
To celebrate national Poetry Day and the Essex Year of Reading, leading children’s author, Clare Luther, hosted a series of workshops for Essex Virtual School pupils.
Leading children’s author, Clare Luther, entertained and educated pupils who attend the Essex Virtual School on national poetry day (Thursday 6 October), as part of the Essex Year of Reading campaign.
Clare, who has written much-loved children’s book series: ‘The Little Paws Hotel’ and ‘The Animorals – Bracken Wood Collection’, uses rhymes to tell the stories from the perspective of animals and helps children deal with emotions and the associated physiological reactions through her writing.
The sessions aim to engage and inspire children in care, care leavers, children with or who have previously had, a social worker, as well as their classmates. Reading and talking to children, especially those who are younger, can help them to develop their speech and language skills, learn new words and become a more confident reader.
Highlighting the importance of looking after our mental health and wellbeing can also help children to build resilience and become better able to manage difficult situations throughout their lives.
Clare’s workshops come ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October – a time for everyone to pause and reflect on their own wellbeing. Clare explains: “I use the rhymes and the animals in the books to start meaningful conversations about big everyday emotions that children may be having. Children listen out for familiar sounds in the rhymes and can relate to the main character because of their own fear, worries or anxiety. Empathy is also a key theme in my books and I use puppets and pictures in my workshops to really engage the children.”
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “We are pleased to work with Clare to make reading inclusive, interactive and fun for pupils. We want everyone to discover a lifelong love of reading and Clare’s books have the added benefit of helping children understand the importance of looking after their mental wellbeing. I would encourage parents and carers to download the free Essex Year of Reading App which is also a great tool they can use at home to support their child to build resilience.”
To find out more about the Essex Year of Reading campaign, visit www.essexyearofreading.co.uk. Download the Essex Year of Reading app from the App Store or Google Play.
