Reading is the BEST. It has been proven to improve so many aspects of your child’s life – and if you yourself are a reader then you will totally know and understand why!
Reading is escapism; learning; discovery; relaxation – and so much more. It feeds young growing minds with a love of words, and offers them a chance to still their bodies and free their minds at the same time.
If you want to foster a love of reading in your kids, the best thing to do is to start them off with really good books. 6 years olds are generally in Year 1 (and Year 2), and at that point, they are expected to read independently.
However, it’s no good handing your 6 year old Tolstoy and expecting them to get much out of it – books have to be aimed at the right age range, and they have to be enjoyable.
No matter what your child’s interests are, there is bound to be a book (or, in fact, a whole library full!) out there to encourage them to fall in love with the world of books.
There are so many great kids’ books out there that it can be really hard to start with the good books for 6 year olds to read independently.
Do you just dust off your own favourites and pass them down? Let them read whatever their friends are reading? Drop them off at the local library and hope they make their own minds up?
If you want to help your kids by giving them a gentle nudge in the right direction, you have come to the right place. We have done some research, and have picked out the five best books for 6 year olds to read independently.
Five Books For 6 Year Olds To Read Independently
1. My Encyclopaedia Of Very Important Things
This is a great book for those little ones with a burning thirst for knowledge. It contains facts about the world we live in: animals, plants, people, and the human body. It is an excellent foray into the world around us, and fantastic fodder for young minds.
What we like about it:
- It covers a huge range of subjects. From the Big Bang, to Nature, to cities of the world – this book is a comprehensive exploration of the world and everything in it.
- Easy to dip in and out of. This book can be opened at a page at random, and new and exciting facts can be learned about at every turn.
- Simple and easy to comprehend. As this is a book for young people, it is written and explained in simple yet comprehensive language.
2. The Tell Me Tree
A great book for learning about feelings – what they are, how others experience them, and how to explain them to other people. Lots of little people struggle with big emotions and how to express them, and this book will help them to know them, experience them and express them.
What we like about it:
- Beautiful illustrations. Some children connect better with pictures than words, and this book has both – the pictures are inviting and attractive enough to encourage your offspring to share their feelings.
- Allows any feelings. Sometimes it can be tempting to tell your children to bottle things up, even unintentionally – by telling them not to scream or shout. This book will help youngsters to learn to express their feelings in a productive way.
- Offers a lot of different solutions. Some children like to talk, others prefer to act out, or to draw their feelings. This clever book offers a range of ideas to help them get on top of their big emotions that they don’t know how to express.
3. Kindness Is My Superpower
Being kind, caring and sharing, is one of the most important things that we wish for our children. However, sometimes it can be hard to encourage them to be this way! Reading a book that helps explain how important it is to be kind can go a long way towards helping your children to be the well rounded, caring individuals you want them to be.
What we like about it:
- Encourages “I’m sorry”. We all mess up; it’s human nature. Acknowledging your mistakes and apologising for them is a big step on the path to becoming a well rounded individual, and this book will explain the best ways to do this.
- Teaches empathy. It can be hard to learn to consider others’ feelings, especially as a young person. This book can help them start on the path towards being empathetic.
- Gentle rhymes. Rhyming prose is easy to hear, and it delivers important messages into small minds very easily – this book’s writing is designed to appeal to young ears and will make the message inside more likely to go in.
4. The Invisible String
A lot of children experience separation anxiety, especially when experiencing new thing such as the first (or the 9,000th!) day of school. Some even find it hard to cope when Mum leaves the room. This book is for them! It explains how there is always a connection between loved ones, and can really help a small person to feel safe.
What we like about it:
- Ideal for any age group. Anxiety and discomfort at the absence of a caregiver can arise at any age, so having a book that can validate and offer solutions for this is very welcome.
- Can help children deal with the loss of a loved one. Suddenly having a family member not be around can be frightening, confusing and upsetting for children. This book can offer explanation and comfort at these times.
- Beautifully illustrated. Pictures can sometimes speak louder than words, and small children especially can really connect with the lovely pictures, at the same time as the words seep into their minds.
5. I’m Sticking With You
Friendships can be hard to deal with, at any age, and being a young person can make it even harder to navigate. This book will help young people get to grips with how to deal with friendships and other relationships that may be hard to get their heads around.
What we like about it:
- It’s funny and appealing. Humour always appeals to young minds, and this book addresses the issues of relationships in a funny way that makes it very accessible.
- Rhyming text. The rhythmic sound of rhyming prose appeals specially to children, so using this method to get a message across is especially effective.
- Beautifully illustrated. The artwork in this book is by a new picture book illustrator, and they show off their talents brilliantly in a way that will make small children sit up and take notice, even as they read the words.
