Reading is not an obsolete pastime!!

In my many years as an educator, I have often come across parents who say:

 “He/She is wasting time reading story books all the time.”

Now let us get this straight!

Do we want to develop a reading habit in our kids? Should they only be reading when they have time to waste?

Make up your minds dear parents. Or else, you leave our little friends completely confused.   

My years of experience as an educator prods me to say that good reading habits and reading skills go a long way in life. In fact, they lay the foundation for great innings both in academics and successful careers. Reading helps develop language skills that hold one in good stead. Subsequently, one feels more adept at communicating and collaborating with others. Reading also increases attention span and promotes greater critical thinking skills.

The key to encouraging good reading habits in your children is modelling it yourself as a parent. Squeeze in that 20-30 minutes each day to read to them or read with them. By doing so, your child will experience first-hand the joys of reading. Spark your child’s imagination and stimulate his/her curiosity by initiating a dialogue about what they have read. This special time spent with your children will have a long lasting impact on their bond with you.

Research says that you can read to your child as early as when the baby is in the womb. Continue reading together through the formative years so that reading becomes a life-long habit and a book becomes a trusted companion to beat boredom. Thanks to technology, reading has become a very cheap entertainment. One may easily download books on kinder and the like. Audio books also provide a wonderful diversion. Though, I’m old school and prefer a paper-back hard-copy of a new book to this day. The feeling of holding a new book in my hand and the smell of that paper as you turn the pages matches none other.

Make conscious efforts to your routines and surrounding to encourage a love for reading. Make a cozy reading niche at home – a bean bag and some colourful fun accessories will make this the best corner of your house. When out, practise reading all kinds of reading material that you come across with your child: menus, posters, hoardings, road signs and more. Help your children to make connections between what they read and their everyday lives.

Most importantly, act as a role model and read in the presence of your children. Watching you read will drive home a strong message about the importance of reading.