The importance of reading has dawned on Finnish people – the Finnish Reading Center published 10 Facts on Reading
According to the survey made by the Finnish Reading Center, Finns of all ages recognize the importance of reading and would like to have more time for it. However, at the same time, the number of books read has decreased. People are aware of the advantages and benefits of reading but more and more Finnish parents no longer like to read. The parents’ reading habits, attitudes and the way in which they talk about learning play a significant role in the formation and development of young people’s reading and writing habits and skills. Individual differences in children’s linguistic skills are visible already at school start.
“Reading literacy is a future skill which will assist us in the changing society. Literacy helps us towards a better understanding of the surrounding world and ourselves. It is worrying that a growing share of Finnish people risk not to have access to social services and activities due to their low literacy level”, Ilmi Villacis of the Finnish Reading Center points out.
News about the importance of reading have an impact on reading habits
During the past few years, various levels of the Finnish society have come to realise the importance of reading and literacy. Different reading projects and campaigns use inspiring methods to encourage people of all ages to read. About half of the Finns recognise the importance of reading about public discussions and debates, and 27 % of them feels that this has impacted their reading habits. News about reading also influence the families’ activeness in reading. The second most important incentive to read to the children is the information provided by the child welfare clinics about the importance of reading.
1. Six in ten Finnish people think they do not read enough
2. Information on early reading benefits impacts the reading habits of families
3. Reading to children provides them with almost a year’s head start on their educational path
4. Literacy becomes divergent, the impact of the socio-economic background on competences is growing
5. Schools have varying opportunities to engage in equal reading literary work
6. Individual actions inspire reading in the young
7. Society must recognise low-performing readers in all age groups
8. Supporting multilingualism promotes all learning
9. Society demands increasingly multifaceted literacy from us all
10. One in four Finnish people did more reading during the exceptional spring
+ Reading literacy work takes place on a wide front