Sycamore State Park - Storybook Trail

Ohio State Parks created the Storybook Trails -  "Ohio’s Storybook Trails bring books to life for children and families. Storybook Trails are lined with pages from a children’s book to blend the fun of outdoor exploration with reading. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources launched the Storybook Trail program in 2019 to promote the importance of literacy, a healthy lifestyle, and connecting with nature." 

On the official website, there are maps to see where you can find the trails. They are getting more and more popular as cities start making their own story book trails. I will always encourage my kids to read and I will always buy them books if they want them (within reason of course!) My parents always said growing up that even though books are expensive they couldn't be upset buying them for us due to how important reading can be.

Reading reduces stress by 68%

When children have a home library, as few as 20 books of their own at home (one bookshelf full), they achieve three more years of schooling than children who don’t have any books at home.

Read 20 minutes a day and you’ll read 1,800,000 words per year.

Children who read 1,000,000 words a year are in the top two percent of reading achievement.

Children learn 4,000 to 12,000 words per year through reading.

 Reading increases your general knowledge.

Reading maintains cognitive function.

Reading prevents Alzheimer’s disease.

It can increase empathy.

It can improve your sleep.

It can help you improve your focus.

If you read just ONE book a day with your kids, by the time they are 5 they will have read 1825 books.

Below is a Little Library, at every entrance to a Storybook Trail there is a little library. 

We always bring a few extra books from home to help stock them up after we hike the trail.

We are a family of readers! Keep on reading, love the #guentheradventures crew!