Teaching children how to read is sometimes like waiting for your Internet broadband connection to speed up. It seems forever and if you don’t have the patience, you would just give up.
I know how it feels. I used to be a part-time teacher-aide in a developmental center and I’d say that reading is really a partnership between the parents and the school. Some children are fast readers because they are exposed to reading prior to having been in school while some are “not much interested” because they are left in the arms of the TV couch. There is nothing really wrong with letting your children watch educational TV programs, but you have to be very much involved in having them appreciate reading.
So why is reading the next big thing? Reading opens up a lot of opportunities for a growing child. Learning to read, and comprehend, is the transition point from a flat world to a round world. A book is a treasure chest of knowledge and learning. Imagine how boring the world would be to someone who cannot read! It is like being left in the ocean with no lifejacket at all. You have eyes and yet you are blindfolded. You can see and yet you don’t understand. No parent would want his/her child to be left behind. You may not all have the money on earth to give your child the shining diamonds or the biggest palace, but, if your child knows how to read, he/she can conquer the world!
There are soooo many ways on how to bring out your children’s reading interest and the best of which is to C.A.R.E.
C- Create the love for reading by example.
If you yourself are not a reader, how would you expect your children to be?
Research says that setting an example can be done as early as conception.We
may not believe it, but the brain development of a child starts in
the mother’s womb. If you’re past the conception stage, setting an example
can start by tagging your child along on your trip to the bookstore or
library, or reading to your child at bedtime.
A-Allow spontaneous reading, but make sure you provide really good reading
materials at home.
The top four books that you should invest in are the encyclopedia, almanac,
atlas, and dictionary. You can also go for collections of word puzzles, world
trivia, and the likes.
R- Reduce time spent in watching TV; spend quality time instead reading really,
really good stories.
You don’t only impart the love for reading to your children but you assure them
that you are available for them and that you love them, especially when you do
the reading before they go to sleep, or as part of playtime. See to it that
reading time with Mom and Dad is something that your children will look forward
to.
E- Entrust your child to an institution that advocates reading.
I’ve been with Southville International School and Colleges for almost two years
now and I’d say that the school has really been living to its name of being a
reading center, not only in the Metro but in the rest of the Philippine
archipelago as well. As early as preschool age, Southville students are taught
how to read. As shared by Dr. Garcia, a parent of three Southville students
during the recognition of the students, “Our youngest daughter Andrea, along with
Girl Scouts Overseas participants from Troop Daisee of Southville Prep girls,
joined and camped with other 5-6 year old girls from different international
schools. In one of their activities, the mastercamper’s first question was, “who
among the daisees know how to read,” and we were pleasantly surprised to say the
least, when only the three Southville girls raised their hands.”
As I’ve said, teaching children reading, and love for reading, is a home-school
collaboration. Once parents have started a reading culture at home, it is
important to choose a school that has a strong reading program.
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