Friday, Sep 07, 2012
Dubai: With the ever-growing popularity of smartphones, gaming consoles and television, inculcating reading habits in children is no mean feat.
While it might be difficult to get them to pick a book, encouraging children to read is highly rewarding, experts say.
“Reading is an excellent habit to enhance one’s understanding about various places, cultures and much more,” says Rema Menon, education counsellor and founder of Counselling Point.
“It is very important to start young. Those who get into the habit of reading when they are young, continue to do so when they are adults and make the time and effort.”
As with everything else, parents serve as role models for children, so when they see parents read it immediately serves as a powerful positive message, she said.
Maureen Szulczewski, an English faculty member at the Higher Colleges of Technology Women’s campus and an avid reader, couldn’t agree more.
“Reading stimulates imagination and exposes us to experiences we may not come across otherwise.”
She fell in love with books at a very young age.
Her mother, who was a voracious reader, was definitely an inspiration, she said. Her mother took her to the local library when she was six, but was told that she needs to be at least seven to join.
“The librarian made me read out a passage and when I was able to, I was let into the library.”
I was very proud that I was able to read, and ever since I have been reading regularly, Maureen said.
In a recent international test as part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa), while UAE’s children achieved positive results overall, research showed that nearly twice as many 15-year-old boys in the UAE have poor reading skills as compared to girls.
“Reading a variety of books, whether in school or at home, challenges the brain to think in new directions and absorb new concepts which is of course essential for cognitive learning,” according to Rashi Panjabi, co-founder of Reader’s Paradise. Reader’s Paradise is a book rental library that allows member to rent books online and get it delivered to them and picked up for free.
Sharing his passion for reading, 12-year-old Anish Chandiramani, who attends Dubai Scholars, said that he makes it a point to read every day before going to bed.
“I dream about what I read… this is what I find most interesting,” he said, adding that he regularly visits the library with his family.
Making reading a fun-filled family activity is highly beneficial, Rema said. “When children are old enough, introduce them to look up words they are not familiar with.”
Not only will it broaden vocabulary, but once they grow up to be young adults, reading will help with exams and help in preparing assignments and reports with ease, she said.
Maureen suggests starting as young as possible, with age-appropriate books.
“This helps to be emotionally switched on to reading. It should be a daily habit. Make it interesting by asking questions and apart from getting a library membership, have plenty of books at home,” she said.
It helps with improving the attention span of children, which is getting shorter and shorter these days, she said.
“Reading is key to studying all subjects. If you are a good reader, it clears your brain space to understanding concepts. But if not, you will be struggling to read as well as to understand the concepts all at the same time,” she added.
Most of all, reading is a beautiful way to spend your time, Rema summed up.
By Rayeesa Absal Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
