South Tyneside families participated in Take 10 to Read on Thursday 10 October to mark World Mental Health Day as part of the annual campaign from the National Literacy Trust.

Take 10 to Read encourages people of all ages to drop everything and read for just 10 minutes at 10:00am and experience the wellbeing benefits of reading.

Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that reading for enjoyment can help you relax and boost your mood, as well as supporting the vital literacy skills needed to succeed at school, work and in life. However less than half (44.6%) of children in the North East enjoy reading, and only 3 in 10 read daily in their free time, with thousands missing out on these benefits.

This year, South Tyneside Family Hubs teamed up with South Tyneside Libraries, who provided a unique educational experience to children across various Family Hub locations.

Families were encouraged to wear yellow at Learning with Play groups to raise awareness and show children and young people they’re not alone with their mental health.

Angela Gelston, Active Libraries Engagement Officer, expressed her delight after a very successful week of delivering activities: “It was lovely to share some of the books that South Tyneside Libraries have on the shelves with the parents, carers and children.

“The stories (A Busy Day for Birds, Monkey Puzzle, The Splendid Spotted Snake) were well received by all. Everyone joined in, singing and dancing, ending on an enthusiastic rendition of ‘If you’re happy and you know it’.

“It’s always great to see babies and young people enjoy being read to with the added bonus that we know there is a link between reading for pleasure and positive mental wellbeing. Reading together, even for just 10 minutes, gives you that chance to slow down and bond with each other.”

Linzi Winn, Project Manager at National Literacy Trust North East, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to South Tyneside Family Hubs for supporting our Take 10 to Read campaign.

“Collaborating with the community is at the heart of we do, and it’s inspiring to see so many local families participating in reading and storytelling activities. Just 10 minutes of reading a day can ignite a lifelong love of books, promoting better wellbeing and opening up brighter future prospects for children.”

The Take 10 celebrations continued in 27 schools across the region, where 3,329 children joined three bestselling authors in virtual events aimed at inspiring a love of books and reading.

To get further ideas for supporting your child’s communication and development, visit our website and check out our First Words Together and Early Words Together programmes.