World Book Day conjures stories up in Gaelscoil

GAELSCOIL Inis Córthaidh celebrated World Book Day earlier this month by inviting the children to dress up as their favourite characters from a book.

The children were also invited to bring in their favourite book and they also participated in a ‘share a story’ campaign in their classrooms.

This gave them the opportunity to share their favourite books with their classmates.

A spokesperson for the school highlighted to this newspaper the importance of such initiatives and emphasised that reading for pleasure is in decline.

‘Only 29 per cent of [children aged up to 13] read for pleasure daily,’ she said.

That figure represents a drop of 30 per cent in just three years and was a result of research done into children’s reading for pleasure by Egmont in 2019.

‘ The number of parents sharing stories with their children is also in steep decline,’ said the school spokesperson.

‘Only 56 per cent of 3 to 4-year-olds are read to daily or nearly every day [and] fewer than 19 per cent of 8 to 10-yearolds are read to daily or nearly every day,’ she added.

The went on to comment that the initiatives in Gaelscoil Inis Córthaidh were aimed at boosting reading for pleasure numbers.

The spokesperson highlighted some of the benefits to be had from children sharing stories together including: boosting creativity and imagination; It’s a calming, bonding experience that improves well-being; It builds empathy and closeness; It’s great fun for everyone involved.

‘Reading is such an important and enriching life skill and everyone can play a role in building a child’s enthusiasm for books well beyond World Book Day by reading together regularly and encouraging children to join their local library,’ said the spokesperson.

‘Children are never too young to start their journey with books and the benefits of reading are enormous,’ she added.

Junior infant class make a huge effort at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

Fifth class students at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

Second class students display their favourite fictional characters at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

Sixth class students at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

Fourth class students at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

First class students at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

Senior infant class students participate at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.

Third class students at World Book Day in Enniscorthy Gaelscoil.