Page 17 - IFV June Issue 2025

Lifestyle

to children before they can talk helps
them learn, but unfortunately only
about a third of parents actually read
with children aged six and under.
Louw explains that just like other
healthy lifestyle habits such as eating
well and exercising, there’s a gap
between awareness and action. Even
when parents know it’s important to
share books with pre-verbal children,
they need a nudge to actually do it.
She adds that physical, hard copy
books at home can provide that nudge
in a way that that digital books cannot.
This is why Book Dash is working hard to
increase book ownership in homes, and
why the support from organisations like
PAMSA is crucial.
Paper-based books remain popular
among readers, with the survey
showing that 34. 7 % of respondents
prefer physical books for leisure reading,
compared to 7.4 % who opt for tablets
or e-readers. Importantly, 57.6 % of
respondents strongly disagree with the
statement that ‘print is dead’.
Molony says that paper books
play a vital role in early childhood
development and literacy, and create
a stronger educational foundation.
Research consistently shows that paper-
based materials promote better reading
comprehension and information
retention compared to digital formats.
This is particularly important for
developing brains.
Both Book Dash and PAMSA goals
promote literacy and sustainable
paper usage. Paper books are not only
renewable and recyclable, but can easily
be shared and passed along, extending
their impact within communities.
Through initiatives such as the Book
Dash partnership, PAMSA aims to help
address the book access gap in South
Africa and contribute to improving
literacy rates, particularly among young
readers who need exposure to books in
their early developmental years.
Issued by Media Portal on behalf of
the Paper Manufacturers Association of
South Africa

The Villager • June 2025 • 15