Konnie Huq says urging children to read will ‘fix’ world problems as they learn empathy

Former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq has said that children reading can ‘fix’ world problems . 

The author and illustrator has revealed that children learn empathy through reading, meaning they learn to ‘stand in the shoes of others.’

Speaking on World Book Day, Konnie, 46, says that if every child has that empathy, world problems such as climate change and conflicts would be fixed.

She explained: ‘If every child reads lots, the more empathy they have, the better, nicer, kinder adults they will be.’

‘And if every child has that, that would fix all the world’s problems, there would be no climate crisis, no poverty, no conflict, nothing.’

‘What we need in normal life is liberal amounts of empathy and people thinking happiness comes from helping each other and not helping yourself.’

Konnie was a presenter on the CBBC children’s show Blue Peter from 1997 to 2008, being the longest-serving female presenter of the show. 

The mother-of-two revealed that it was her time on this show where she realised how impressionable children are, describing them as a ‘blank canvas’.

She further explained: ‘Over the years on the show we had so many guests where things had come to them as a child and then they have taken that with them for life.’

‘They often say kids know or have decided what they are going to be in those primary years, that is when you are becoming the adult you will be.’ 

Since leaving the CBBC show in 2008, Konnie has published a children’s book series called Cookie, which she describes as a ‘Bridget Jones meets The Wimpy Kid’ style collection – representing ethnic minorities in the series.

She also has a Youtube channel, in which she posts content for children such as STEM learning and experiments, arts & crafts and reading and storytelling. 

Konnie will be reading a range of children’s books at Camden Market on Sunday 6 March, in celebration of World Book Day.