We Love Reading organized a virtual panel entitled “Children and Families Reflect on the Impact of Reading for Fun” as part of the Learning Planet Festival, which focused on the impact of reading for fun on children’s skills and imagination. The event took place on January 24th, coinciding with the International Day of Education.
During the panel, a group of talented children and their family members discussed how reading for fun has affected their lives. The first group of guests included Amal Rahman, a 7-year-old author who has written, illustrated, and published two books; her aunt, Dr. Yasmin Kader, a professor at the University of Leeds, who has been supporting her throughout her journey; and Amal’s sister, Arrisa, who shared her own experiences with reading. Another child author, “Saif,” from Jordan, also participated. Saif wrote his first book at the age of 6, with encouragement from his teacher, the WLR Ambassador Ala’a Badareen. The third group of guests consisted of Dr. Rasha Istaiteyeh and her 11-year-old daughter, Yumna, who creates cardboard houses and sketches.
Throughout the event, the guests discussed how their passion for reading began, the impact of reading on their personalities, their journey to writing books, and the role of family in fostering children’s talents.
The Learning Planet Festival is an annual event organized around International Education Day in partnership with UNESCO, as well as with hundreds of pioneering organizations in the fields of education, culture, science, social and environmental impact, and with thousands of students and young activists from all over the world.”