Newspapers have long been part of the fabric of the communities they cover and serve. Whether it’s a big-city daily tabloid or a small town weekly, newspapers keep readers and residents up-to-date on the latest goings-on in their communities and across the globe.
Newspapers have been linked to a range of benefits for adults that include greater civic engagement and stronger voter turnout. Such benefits are indispensable, and it’s equally important to recognize ways in which newspapers benefit children.
Reading and discussing newspaper stories can foster stronger language development. A 2022 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health noted that parents who provide newspapers at home for their children to read and then discuss stories with young readers can help kids develop strong language skills, which could ultimately benefit them in the classroom and in their personal interactions. The study also noted that discussing newspaper stories with youngsters creates opportunities for children to explore their thoughts.
Newspapers can help children develop their critical thinking skills. A meta-analysis examining ways to teach students critical thinking skills published in the Review of Educational Research noted that critical thinking skills are vital because they bolster students’ ability to interpret, analyze, evaluate, and make inferences. Newspapers are an invaluable resource for educators aiming to bolster kids’ critical thinking skills, as they can be used to teach students to recognize why stories were written, how information in a given story was learned and gathered and how to verify information in a news story. Each of those lessons requires interpretation, analysis and evaluation, ultimately instilling in students vital critical thinking skills that can serve them in the classroom and beyond.
Newspapers help students develop vital communication skills. A 2024 study published in the Elementaria Journal of Educational Research found that reading newspapers helped student participants in the study improve their vocabulary, enhance their writing skills and more effectively articulate their ideas. Authors behind the study ultimately characterized newspapers as valuable educational tools, a conclusion that has been reached by researchers across a range of academic disciplines.
