The Benefits Of Reading Comic Books
Reading comic books is one of those pleasures that are worth giving children from childhood. Not just because they’re fun. But also because they provide many benefits to children’s cognitive development. It even helps the little ones to be more reflective and imaginative.
The vivid colors and adventures of the characters described captivate children and adults alike. In fact, a few decades ago it was very common to see some grandparents having fun with comic book sagas they started reading in childhood.
Some examples are: The Adventures of Tintin, Don Quixote (adapted from the classic of Spanish literature), Sherlock Holmes, among others. Without a doubt, comic books have an irreplaceable charm.
The good thing about them is that much of their magic remains unchanged over the years. Like so much else, comic books have become immortal. They even became references in popular culture.
Characteristics of comic books
Comic books are story magazines that tell the adventures of superheroes and villains . They are characterized by bringing together the following elements in their plots:
- They have striking and vivid colors.
- They use onomatopoeias to compensate for the absence of sound.
- They can tell a story in each magazine or a single story divided into chapters.
- They use a wide variety of linguistic resources: flashbacks, flash-forwards and a permanent connection between text and image.
- They have their own codes, such as cartoons, balloons, the characters’ marked gestural expressions.
The Advantages of Reading Comic Books
Stimulates the imagination
What could be better for a child’s imagination than reading exciting adventures filled with new challenges every week?
The characters, their powers and the powerful villains characteristic of each story allow the child to enter the deep fantasy world.
This gives rise to various games, drawings and other activities related to reading. Likewise, trying to guess what might happen in the next magazine is another positive exercise in getting the most out of comic books.
Promotes exchange and interpersonal relationships
Nowadays comic book stores are practically clubs for regular readers. They bring together many children and many adults who share not only the interest, but also the passion for this type of story.
In addition to offering the possibility of making new friends, comic books are the center of many grand events that open doors to new experiences.
An example of this type of event is the International Convention of Comics (as comics are also called) in San Diego, United States, the famous Comic-Con. But there are also national and local events specific to each region.
Expand vocabulary and improve spelling
As with any type of reading, reading comic books leads to the incorporation of new words and phrases. In fact, comic books often have a peculiar use of punctuation marks. So it’s a good opportunity to learn its various uses.
It’s an excellent hobby
In addition to everything that has been said about comics , we cannot forget one essential aspect: they are extremely fun. A child can spend hours reading the adventures of their favorite superhero.
In relation to comic books that have been in circulation for many years, it is possible to find old numbers and relive these adventures. Often a new reading allows discovering things that until now had gone unnoticed.
They form a collection with unforgettable memories
Many people collect comic book magazines throughout childhood and adolescence. Years later, these magazines allow you to travel back in time and transport yourself to those times in the past.
Just by opening or smelling the magazines, one automatically remembers those moments when reading these adventures was one of their main diversions.
Many collections even gain value over time, especially those with limited editions.
Considering all of the above, we can certainly say that comic books have not gone out of style – at least not yet – and that their magic remains intact.
If your child doesn’t have any comic book magazines, then this can be an excellent gift for the next anniversary date. Maybe you’ll awaken in him a taste for reading, adventures and superheroes.
