Does your child pick up a book on his/her own to read? Or would they rather spend time watching television programmes / playing games on their tablets? If they spend hours on their electronic devices, very soon, they will lose their interest in books and reading materials.
Many parents face challenges with their children's inattention. It appears to be a tedious task to get their children sit down to attend to words in prints. If we miss this golden period to inculcate good reading habits, we are doing more harm than good.
The preschooling age are the best years for exposure. During this period, children are naturally gifted and curious. They ask lots of questions, actively participate in choral reading and love storytelling sessions. Make use of this golden period to introduce as many books and subjects as possible!
Lower primary years (Primary 1-3) are the best time to accelerate their learning. During this period, children gain greater exposure to different prints in school and even writing. We usually observe a reading gap - some children are already reading novels while others are still at the stage of learning to read.
Here's how we can cultivate a love for reading:
Introduce age appropriate books
- Choose books peg at their reading level and interest. Do not be too ambitious. Books that are of higher level will make them lose interest faster. Once fluency achieved, gradually increase the level of difficulties
Books should be placed within their reach
- As parents we are afraid that our children will "spoil" the books, hence we have the tendency to be over protective of the books we own. While children are great toy explorers, they shall also be great book explorers. Start rearranging your shelves so they can independently reach out for the books.
Parents are role models, children must see you read
- Role modelling. When children see you read (be it newspapers, books, magazines), naturally they will be curious readers too. Set a reading session whereby everyone in the household sit down and read.
Story telling has to be expressive
- Who doesn't love animated story telling sessions? From this show-and-tell session, children can pick up langauge and new vocabulary words.
It is ok to read alongside children who have mastered word reading
- Many parents feel that primary school children should be independent in their learning and reading since they "already can read". This is a wrong perception. As one progresses from preschool to primary level, the content, length and difficulty increases. They require more guidance from adults to spark their interest. Some books have long story setups and more complex vocabulary, so adults should help lead the way. Once the plot becomes more engaging, children will read on their own without prompting. It is also advisable for adults to take time to look through the books their children are reading and discuss the content together, which can further enhance the child's reading skills.
Start reading to / with your child today!
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