Numerous studies show that reading is extremely important for the healthy and successful development of children and young people. It is also highly beneficial for adults. It helps us deal successfully with the challenges of everyday life in an increasingly digital world.
Despite this, national and international surveys reveal worrying data on the reading literacy of Slovenian children and adults. That is why, at the start of the National Month of Reading Together 2025, the Slovenian Reading Badge Society – Slovenian Association of Friends of Youth, the Slovenian Reading Association, the Slovenian Institut for Adult Education (SIAE) and the Slovenian Book Agency have committed themselves to encouraging as many people as possible to find time for 10 minutes of reading a day in their everyday lives.
We want 10 minutes of daily reading to become, first and foremost, a regular practice in educational institutions across Slovenia at all levels.
At the same time, we encourage adults to read for 10 minutes a day, regardless of age, level of education, occupation or workplace. Take 10 minutes for yourself and spend that time reading.
10 reasons to read for 10 minutes a day
- Reading stimulates brain activity – it improves connections between neurons and promotes the growth of new connections, especially in areas related to comprehension and language.
- Just ten minutes of reading a day can significantly reduce stress levels – even more than listening to music or going for a walk. Reading helps you switch off your thoughts and calm your mind.
- Regular reading trains the brain to maintain concentration for longer, which also positively affects work performance.
- Every new book expands your vocabulary, improving communication in both written and spoken forms.
- Reading encourages analytical thinking, understanding of complex ideas and the ability to ask questions and seek answers.
- Fiction, in particular, helps develop emotional intelligence and empathy, as readers identify with the feelings, thoughts and experiences of different characters.
- Reading books offers insights into different cultures, historical periods, science, philosophy and more, and helps us better understand the world around us.
- Reading before bedtime – especially printed books – can act as a calming routine that signals to the body that it is time to rest.
- Reading stories, ideas and concepts that we do not encounter every day stimulates imagination and creative thinking.
- Unlike aimless scrolling on a phone or watching television, reading offers a meaningful and enriching form of relaxation.
Reading together – whether parents are reading to children or everyone is reading their own book – can be very valuable, as it fosters emotional closeness, a sense of pleasure and a feeling of safety in children.
Reading together is ideal for in-depth conversations about the books you have read, for developing imagination and an exploratory spirit, and for improving mutual understanding.
Alenka Štrukelj (alenka.strukelj@acs.si), SIAE