Mental health is a topic that affects people of all ages; with children being especially sensitive to this subject, KiddyCharts has launched a Shelf Care book club. This is a free reading club for kids that is entirely online and can help them read in a way that boosts their wellbeing. For Children’s Mental Health Week, beginning on 6th February, their overarching goal is to help kids develop a better understanding of their own mental health needs.
With the kids’ book club KiddyCharts aims to make a positive difference, offering free PDF eBooks, activity sheets and even audiobooks for children who are reluctant or struggling to read. Some UK members will also be able to receive free physical books. To emphasise this club’s mental health component, colouring books will also be available, as will Chris Dixon’s book on feelings – this is to help attendees begin a positive mental health journey that will improve their wellbeing.
To celebrate the upcoming launch, KiddyCharts is encouraging people to gift physical copies of the books they receive within the club to anyone, from strangers, to friends and family, to help share the joy of reading. On top of this, they’ve developed the #KiddyChartsShelfCare hashtag to promote the initiative. This free online book club could be especially helpful for nurseries, primary schools, and parents, affording them free activities around the books, as well as a great opportunity to teach children about the positive effect reading has on all our mental health.
Helen Neale, counsellor and qualified librarian, as well as KiddyCharts’ editor, says, “Getting children to read can do wonders for their mental health, allowing them to escape the world around them and learn how to approach certain life challenges, including the simple like going to the dentist, to the more complex, such as grief. We want to help more children read, especially if they’re going through difficult times. Our online book club is completely free, and we’ve personally selected the books that we think will have a positive impact on any kid’s mental health and wellbeing.”
Find more information about the KiddyCharts Book Club and join it for free at www.kiddycharts.com/activities/free-online-childrens-book-club.
