During the last few years, several multimedia platforms have emerged and while they evolve over time and adapt their contents according to the demand and tastes of society, there are many cases where books have remained in norms anchored in the past.
According to the definition of a social psychologist, social representation is created and shared by society and is opposed to the construction of a reality common to a social group. These representations can touch several spheres such as personality, beliefs, values, but above all ethnicity.
Before talking about the benefits of the personalization of children’s books, it is necessary to review the negative points that come to tarnish the moments dedicated to reading.
The disadvantages of generalization:
Generalization consists in taking as a model something that represents the norm. The only positive aspect it brings is that it facilitates the work of the production team. It is illustrated by the use of a basic character, without particular distinction or with a specific image that we tend to see in a common way. It can be based on the prejudices that the majority of the population has towards a community or the way society interprets a situation.
We all know that our interest is measured based on our understanding of a situation. Only children will have more difficulty understanding the notion of sharing than children with brothers and sisters, for example.
Different experiences/incomprehension:
Children take characters from their favorite cartoons and movies or from the books they read as models. That is why it is important that they recognize themselves in the image described to facilitate their understanding of the situation.
We can remember the game we played when we were children. When we imitated characters from our favorite shows or series. We often chose the one we thought was the best, the one we could associate ourselves with thanks to their way of speaking, their personality, their humor and their physical appearance.
Accepting minority representation is opening the doors to a wider audience, allowing them to associate what happens to a character and their own experiences. There are very few occasions where children with disabilities are depicted in cartoons, considering that a large number of children are affected. Showing characters in the same situation they are in can inspire them, showing that disability, gender or origins are not a limit to their dreams.
Disinterest and social exclusion:
As we have already stated, our interest in a situation is measured based on our understanding of it. For this reason, books should use those tools of information and entertainment with the goal of including everyone and representing them.
The advantages of personalization:
It can be said that the advantages of personalization are themselves the direct consequences of representation.
Identify with the character:
When a child reads or hears a story that tells about another youngster his age, he can easily identify with him if they both share common traits. He will be able to recognize himself in a situation and point the finger saying that he can do that too, that he already did it, etc. The reason is that all children want to feel like heroes and offering them that possibility is a gift that you can find in Materlu where you can find a lot of personalized books. Thanks to them, every child can become the main character of a story.
Social representation:
No matter where we live, we always end up close to what we already know and who we are. That is why it is important to show children characters that resemble them and that they can find themselves in the same situations as them.
Allowing children to enjoy a character that is like them has the effect of rejecting the feeling of social exclusion and tenderly instilling a sense of belonging in their heads and hearts. It is important for them to realize that, although each child is different, they are all the heroes of a story.
Greater involvement in the story:
Interest in the story can manifest itself in a number of ways including better involvement in the outcome of the reading. The child will begin to ask more questions, become interested in the potential events that will follow in the character’s adventures and may even hypothesize about the ending.
This involvement has only positive aspects and can lead to other consequences such as excitement at the prospect of spending this time with parents or learning a rich vocabulary.
Affirmation of their identity and appreciation:
All of the benefits of personalization cited above have as their common purpose the affirmation of their identity. So, it is important for parents to choose a story that allows their children to recognize themselves – how beautiful it is to see little ones passionate about a story with a hero who is just like them!
The advantages of personalization:
It can be said that the advantages of personalization are themselves the direct consequences of representation.
