Little Owl Stories was created to help children from diverse backgrounds see themselves in the stories they read—not just in appearance, but in the rich traditions and cultures that make them unique. As we started to delve deeper into the world of personalized stories, we discovered even more amazing benefits. So, we wanted to share with you what we uncovered, and why personalized stories are so much more than just fun times and special memories!
Here is what we found:
1. Personalized stories lead to more enjoyment
A 2012 study titled 'Parents reading with their toddlers: The role of personalization in book engagement' discovered something awesome: personalized stories make reading with your little ones even more fun! Parents who read these special stories with their kids shared more smiles and laughs, making story time extra magical.
2. Children are more engaged when reading personalized stories
When kids see themselves in a story, it sparks more comments and questions! Becoming the main character helps them grasp the storyline and messages better. A study found that when a child spots themselves and exclaims "Me!" or something similar, it often leads to curious questions and excited reactions. This is important if there are learnings you wish to instill in your little ones through story time, like the messages in our books!
3. Personalized stories improves word acquisition
When children start reading, they often understand words better when paired with illustrations. This connection becomes even stronger when they see themselves in those vibrant pictures. An experiment found that 'children showed significantly better knowledge of words in the personalized sections of books compared to the non-personalized sections'. What better way to teach your kids to read than with stories that also celebrate who they are!
In summary, personalized stories for children offer three key benefits (among many others, but we'll focus on these for now):
- More enjoyment
- Greater engagement
- Improved word acquisition
And most importantly, they bring a whole lot of fun!