General News
7 May, 2026
Clifton Lions inspire Clifton State School’s next generation of book worms!
Last week Clifton Lions President Andrew Highet and Secretary Alice McKenzie attended the Clifton State School years 1 & 2 and presented each child with a Read Bears kit, which included a lovingly handmade knitted Teddy, a first readers book and some information for parents about the Program.
The aim of the Read Bears Program is to support little readers to develop and find a love of lifelong learning.
Principal Joel Fogwell, who is a member of Clifton Lions, along with the class teacher were delighted to have this program in their school.
Reading is universally considered one of the best ways to help young kids develop healthy, functioning brains that are ready to learn.
Especially in comparison to the ways in which screen time can impact on healthy brain development.
Reading, especially when reading stories, allows for a litany of functions and interconnections that are not available on the screen.
Stories require more memory than the 10 second reel, helping young brains develop the cognition needed to develop a healthy and working memory.
Reading also helps build concentration, another contrast to the ways in which screen time impacts a young brain.
Reading also helps young people develop empathy, boost critical thinking and develop a healthy self image.
The world of stories and books is a contrast to the worlds available past the screen.
They offer children, safe, formative experiences, which form the foundations to healthy brains; Brains which will be able to traverse the landscape beyond the screen.
Research indicates that excessive screen time can delay and impact a child’s cognitive development.
ScreenStrong, a screen addiction advocacy and awareness group, describes the development of the brain as much like a dirt road: “Neuronal pathways are activity-dependent and reinforced through repeated use. Like dirt roads being paved, areas of the brain are strengthened based on frequent use. With enough repetition and practice, hard activities become easier.”
Reading develops the dirt tracks that’ll take kids on the right paths.
Screen time however, provides what Paediatrician Michael Rich, associate professor of paediatrics at Harvard Medical School, describes as: “Much of what happens on screen provides ‘impoverished’ stimulation of the developing brain compared to reality.” Rich says.
It’s a worthy effort from the Clifton Lions, to inspire reading at a young age.
After all there is so much wonder in the world of books and stories.
Whether it’s about this world or another, there is wonder between pages, and in chains of words.
The reading Teddy’s were thoughtfully knitted by Lions members, their family and friends along with local Dabblers members and members of the community.
The Read Bear program is simple; children take their Read Bear home and are tasked to read to their bear every night for a school term.
The Read Bear inspires children to read, increase their frequency of reading, improve reading, confidence, as well as engage families to read together.
The Read Bear is a reading companion which students can take along as they begin their hopefully, lifelong, literary journeys.
With every page turned, children are laying the foundation for a life of learning and the critical thinking skills they’ll carry with them through school and beyond.
The Clifton Lions once again prove themselves thoughtful pillars of the community.
Working behind the scenes, in the small ways they can to make, what for many, would be a world of difference.
Who knows, they might have inspired the next Steele Rudd!
For now, the students of years 1 and 2 at Clifton State School will be delving into their books with their bears.
