Children who take joy in reading are 'happier' people

Studies show that children who read "are happier people" the Irish Children's Laureate (Laureate na nÓg) has said as she tours Northern Ireland to share the importance of reading and writing.

Patricia Forde was visiting Donegall Road Primary School in Belfast as pupils have been taking part in a special programme run by Fighting Words NI since September.

The charity, which works with children from high-need schools to improve their creative writing skills, has joined forces with the Irish Children's Laureate to encourage young people to pick up a book and read.

Donegall Road PS pupil Scarlett, who is nine years old, said she enjoys the workshop "because you get to draw the pictures and you get to draw the characters".

But, she says, "it's very complicated because you have to think of the ideas".

Speaking at the school ahead of World Book Day, Forde said children who are read to and pick up a book themselves "do better in school, better in life and, this is the killer, they are happier people."

This year, World Book Day coincides with the National Year of Reading 2026.

The Irish Children's Laureate, who celebrates literature for children and young people, is an initiative by Ireland's Arts Council and is also supported by the Arts Council of NI.

Forde said one of the biggest problems trying to get children to read in today's society is competition against technology, particularly computer, television or tablet screens.

"Parents make readers," she said. "Reading to your child when they're going to bed at night. Teachers make readers. Taking time every day in school to say we're not going to do anything now, you're just going to listen to a story.

"We can compete – but we have to up our game."

Eight-year-old Ishan is one of those taking part in the Fighting Words NI programme.

"At first you don't want to write," he said.

"But when you get in there you have lots of ideas that you want to write and when they say stop you're like, 'oh man I want to write a lot more'."

Julie Annette is the P5 teacher at Donegall Road PS and says she has seen a big change over the course of the school year as the programme has progressed.

"Part of the programme is to monitor four or five children specifically but it's a small class and I've been able to see a development with all of the children."

She chose children who were reluctant readers and reluctant writers who "struggled to find creativity and to find imagination".

"Their confidence and self esteem, their interest and also just the fact that they're willing to write something and get up and share it with the rest of the class which they wouldn't have been beforehand."

Fighting Words NI director Hilary Copeland said that by building a child's "confidence, creativity and communication skills" they're equipping them to go out into the world.

The charity is currently working with five primary schools in Belfast over a three year period.

"The schools might have quite a mix of pupils in the classroom - special educational needs, newcomer pupils and we have pupils who might struggle with reading or writing skills," explains Copeland.

She says the main aim is to make writing fun and "spark joy".

World Book Day is held annually on the first Thursday of March and is a worldwide celebration of books and reading.

Parents are often asked to dress their children up as book characters for school to help mark the occasion.

In recent years, some schools in Northern Ireland have encouraged families to decorate potatoes instead to help save on costs.