Once upon a time…
For some of us, these words are the steps to a wonderful world of mystical situations, magical places, new experiences and imaginary characters… For others, these are just mere words and there isn’t much beyond them. For the lucky ones who feel the magic in the words and can’t wait to know what lies beyond, books and reading, hold a charm that little else does.
All they need is a new book or a pre-read favorite to alleviate reality and move to the realm of imagination as they trapeze through a world that exists beyond our daily fathomable existence. It is fascinating how people who enjoy reading can pretty much find the time and space to indulge themselves, no matter where they are.
While there are others who struggle to get through the day, wondering how someone can find time to read. It all stems down to a need and desire that existed way before the other mundane tasks of growing up and being adults seeped in.
Why is reading important?
There are numerous benefits of reading. Beyond a glimpse into a parallel world, it is often an escape from reality and an opportunity to unwind. It helps to calm the mind, de-stress and break free from the daily struggles that most of us deal with. For the younger generation, reading creates awareness of language, provides an exposure to new words and helps to create the stepping stones for language development. It also teaches children to concentrate and focus for longer periods of time.
Besides the language-related benefits, reading enhances creativity and also helps in developing better communication skills. Numerous studies have also linked reading to better performance in an academic environment. Reading helps children to develop emotionally as well. Imagination is at its peak when we are younger. As children are exposed to different situations and characters through books, they develop empathy and learn skills required to deal with a lot of things that life throws at them as they grow older.
Also, they learn negotiation skills while dealing with different situations and can think beyond what is available on the surface. The case for raising a reader is very strong but inspite of the well-researched benefits of reading, creating readers sometimes seems like a daunting task. In the current world that is dominated by the electronic media, entertainment is easily available and we exist in a time of instant gratification.
The easiest way of entertaining a child in any scenario is handing them a handheld device or a phone that would keep them distracted and occupied. With increasing concerns about screen time and the developmental gap, parents are now trying to retrace their steps and encourage reading. Yet, in spite of trying their best, they often complain that their child doesn’t read.
Creating a lifelong habit
The disinterest to read largely stems from the lack of exposure to books at an early age. Reading as a habit should be encouraged from the time that your child is born. A lot of us would argue and say that a child doesn’t understand language at that point. That being said, reading goes way beyond just understanding language. At an early stage, it creates a nurturing environment that in later stages is also associated with comfort and warmth.
As children grow older, they start associating books with relaxation and entertainment, in the long run, books are a powerhouse of knowledge and information. They create an interest in learning that cannot be developed simply through text books. Hence if a child is exposed to books from the very beginning, the chances that they would enjoy reading as they grow older are much higher.
Also, the exposure to words creates the basis for vocabulary development. Children ape what they see. So if you live in a house where they are exposed to adults who read for pleasure, the chances that they themselves pick up a book are much higher. Reading isn’t limited to merely fiction, you could read anything from cook books to magazines and journals, whatever holds your interest as long as it’s a habit associated with pleasure.And when children see their parents pick up a book instead of a phone for entertainment, they would do the same.
Nurturing the love
Now, as parents, once we have worked on developing the habit and we have a child who is interested in reading and can read on his/ her own, it is important to take a step back and let them pick what they like to read.
They might not pick up the most advanced books in terms of literature or the most informative books, as long as they are reading age appropriate books, we need to let them be. Forcing them, to read what we like might actually have a counter effect. So step back, and let your child take a pick! Chances are, as they grow older, they will eventually evolve to read, what you want them to read.
To encourage the habit, it is also important to create a community that evolves around it. Try starting a book club in the neighborhood or join a library that children can visit. Meet authors and attend book readings whenever you get the opportunity. Creating an eco system where books are easily available and happily discussed would ensure that you are creating a foundation for a life long habit that your children would definitely thank you for!
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