Getting your kids to read books can be a difficult mission, but it is a worthy one. Reading is the launch pad to innumerable soft skills that become critical for the future – language, writing, creativity, imagination, communication. Other than these, books are a store house of rich and diverse information. True, information is now only a click away, but there continues to be a charm in shifting through shelf after shelf in a library, hunting for that one book that can add wonders to your project or homework.
There is a fear that we are rearing a generation that is slowly losing out on a firm and sustained habit of reading. Blame it on technology and easy access to devices which have created an information explosion. The result? Shorter attention spans, lack of patience to pursue words and more responsiveness to visual, rather than text input. Anything less than moving and talking images appears dull.
The importance of reading, however, cannot be stressed enough. This, not only for the sake of cultivating skills, but for the pure joy of immersing oneself in the fascinating world of stories, or an incredible sea of facts or simply to enjoy reading aloud poems and interpreting pictures. Reading stokes imagination and gives people lifelong companionship in the form of books.
Having thus established the importance of reading, here are some easy to follow tricks to help your kid get friendly with the written word.
- Read Aloud
When your child is small reading aloud helps. Get your child familiarised with characters, magic, morals and important messages. Choice of stories at this age will help build basic values of empathy, sensitivity and compassion in your child. - Create a Reading Corner
Approach reading as an experience, not a boring task to be done in isolation. Build a little library, install