How Do Illustrated Children's Books Promote Holistic Learning?

 

Illustrated children's books are rich sources of information. They facilitate rich engagement and text construction, promote interaction between parent and child, and allow for meditation. These benefits can be attributed to recurring visual themes. In this article, you will learn how recurring visual themes in picture books promote holistic learning. 

Increases Reading Interest 

An illustrated children's book offers multiple sensory experiences that help children develop a strong sense of story. Children hear the story and see the pictures, and they can touch and smell the pages, all of which contribute to developing their sense of narrative. In addition, children can relate to stories about events and situations relevant to their age. Ultimately, picture books are an excellent way to promote holistic learning.

Rich Engagement and Construction of Texts

The use of illustrations in children's books can facilitate or distract from rich engagement with a text. While they may assist the children's picturing process, they can also inhibit their critical thinking ability. Illustrations can also limit the child's response to a text and interrupt the narrative's rhythm. In this way, they can facilitate or hinder the reading process.

Illustrations also assist in building language skills. Children can learn new vocabulary from the illustrations, easily read aloud. Repeat reading of the same story increases vocabulary by 12%. Additionally, the illustrations help children understand what they are reading. They can figure out what the story is about through the illustrations, which increases their level of understanding and comprehension. Children need to understand the story as a whole throughout the reading process so they benefit from the illustrations.

The genre of children's books may facilitate the transfer of biological information, such as camouflage. However, further research is needed to assess how these features influence problem-solving skills. For example, children aged three to four may need more information than symbolic insight. In addition, children may need to apply the information learned from reading a picture book to a real situation.

Encourage Interaction Between Parent and Child

In a recent study, Hood and colleagues investigated the role of illustrations in children's books in promoting holistic learning through interaction between parent and child. The authors found that illustrations in children's books promoted parents' attempts to engage their children and increase their spontaneous utterances. In addition, this interaction feature predicted future literacy outcomes such as vocabulary and comprehension skills. In addition, parents' efforts to actively engage their children when reading a story were associated with better story retelling and greater child expression of emotion.

The effects of illustrations on young children's memory were modest, with no significant differences between groups. In contrast, illustrations in parent-presented stories improved children's memories of story events. However, the effect of illustrations may be greater in a novel, interactive environment. Therefore, parents should focus on developing their children's reading skills. It means incorporating pictures into children's books as early as possible.

Encourage Meditation

When you introduce your child to holistic learning, you will likely notice an unexpected benefit: more empathy. Children can understand other people's feelings and appreciate the benefits of others' differences. Children's literature also encourages empathy and a desire to help others. Well-being-inspired children's books are another way to encourage holistic learning. Themes often include environmental and health issues and lessons about respecting others. The stories also focus on children's emotions and the importance of mindfulness. Many children find mindfulness instilled in their minds. In addition, illustrated children's books can teach children to take care of themselves, which is essential in achieving a sense of well-being.

Image by Wokingham Libraries from Pixabay