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Read with greed
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As children in some parts of the world celebrate Children’s Book Week, here is a look at how to get youngsters hooked to books
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Photo: S. Thanthoni
SMART MOVE Stoking the imagination through the word
When was the last time you sat yourself down and treated yourself to one of Erich Segal’s weepies? How long has it been since you visited your neighbourhood library or rushed to a bookstore to grab a newly-released mind-boggling book?
In a world that has been taken over by the audio-visual media, books seem to have lost their prominence. “Why take the trouble of reading a book when we can just watch the movie based on it?”asks 13-year-old Priyanka Phillip. Has reading become so cumbersome?
Must we blame the expansion of the visual media or must we just take responsibility for allowing the layer of dust to settle on our long-forgotten books?
“Primarily, reading has lost its value due to the growth of the visual media,” says Anita Ranbhise, an English teacher.
As far as inculcating and nurturing the habit of reading in a child is concerned, she asserts: “When adults themselves don’t read much, it is obvious that they do not usually encourage their children to read.”
Why is reading so important for a child? Evelyn Rajeshekar, a journalism student in the city believes, “Reading opens up the world to a child, increases the child’s vocabulary, stimulates his imagination and builds creativity,” adding “these are things television cannot do”.
Sherill Pal, a student of law and an avid reader says: “People who enjoy books read because it does something for them. A book has the power to melt one’s heart, send a shiver down one’s spine and bring to life what reality does not have to offer mankind!”
Reading is not just about “Harry Potter” or “The Da Vinci Code”.
While we read for different reasons, reading out of compulsion (for an exam!) and reading to gain knowledge are the two common reasons teenagers attribute to why they read books. However, there are other reasons as to why one must read. As Anita puts it, “The more one reads, the better one writes.”
With the internet offering you and your child easy and quicker access to information, how can you inculcate the habit of reading in your child? Here are a few tips that might help you in your endeavour of introducing your child to the world of books as well as encouraging a love for it.
First, show your own interest in books. Do not expect your child to know that it is important to read without setting an example for him. Remember, children learn a lot (good and bad!) by aping their parents.
Do not wait for your child to be able to read before you introduce him to the world of books. Read to him. Children love pictures. Use this as a means to get him hooked onto reading.
Shun the notion that it is the teacher’s responsibility to work on the child’s reading skills. If you consider yourself the primary caregiver of your child, ensure that you take the responsibility of honing his reading skills.
A television is television and a book is a book. No amount of sound and readymade graphics compensate for a book. Make sure your child realises this and treasures the value of a book at an early age itself. As American actor and writer, Lily Tomlin has said, “If you read a lot of books you are considered well read. But if you watch a lot of television, you’re not considered well viewed!”
In this hi-tech world, where it is easier to swear by gizmos, do not forget that there is no substitute for a book and the knowledge gained through it.
NEETI SARKAR
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