When was the first time you read a story to your child, if you have at all? (I did not, before I’m accused of taking a moral high ground). Parenting preparation in India does not quite tell you about the benefits of reading to your kids as early as they are … wait for it….six months old.
Science proves that engaging with storytelling, specifically reading, is incredibly helpful for a child’s growth. But, as a young mother I was more concerned with changing nappies and feeding the little bundle of joy than I was for reading to them. Oh! Just thinking about those days, my heart feels warm, when I could hold them in my arms. Those golden days when I was the whole universe for the little one. Now, my elder one is taller than me and forget about me hugging her! That’s a big no, no in the teenage world. Let me shovel the mother in me before she ruins the essence of this blog.
For the last two blogs which can be accessed here and here, we had been building our case with respect to the science behind reading or for that matter science behind any sort of learning. We concluded by acknowledging the role curiosity plays in our learning journey.
This converges to the point that if somehow we can make our children become curious regarding books, half the battle is won. For that to happen, both parents and children have to create a sacred space that arouses curiosity. This is exactly why everyone says that we must role model and read before expecting from the child. That’s what creating an ambience helps with. Most of the time reading happens automatically if we create an environment & leave. Let the child indulge in the joys of reading. Let him/ her explore at his/her own pace. In case it works, bravo, you’ve nailed it! It is an ideal stage to be in.
But what about many of us who are not into reading? What about kids who are simply not interested? Are they less capable in any way? How do we make them read? I have been asked this question a thousand times. And I just have one answer to it. It’s absolutely fine to be a non- reader. Be cool about it.
Instead, I would request parents to pay close attention. What piques the kid’s interest? What is the child learning in twenty four hours? Is their learning restricted to social media or Netflix series? What sort of posts, reels or shows? It’s garbage in, garbage out always. Our job as a parent is to follow the curiosity of the child to decode the learning pattern.
I will re-emphasize, it’s not the reading that we should be worried about. It’s the learning that we must tap into. The child can learn through numerous ways and it can be digital too. Don’t you feel that reading is a little overrated? Is reading the only gateway to learning? Unquestionably, it is the most prestigious. Reading is a delightful journey. I, for one, credit this one hobby which is now more of a passion, for everything in my life. But in all sincerity, I doubt it’s the only one. Is there anything in life that we can’t learn if we aren’t into reading? I would challenge that.
Let me elaborate a bit. I have to admit, I wasn’t open to this perspective until my dear friend who happens to be my life partner portrayed it for me. Well, he happened to be an avid reader in his youth. His book collection became mine when we were married. However, as an adult working in the demanding corporate world, reading took a backseat. You might wonder, if his learning dipped? Not at all. In fact he is learning every moment without reading a single word. And he can beat a reader in any discussion hands down. How can he do that?
Let’s say he develops a curiosity for Bitcoin. On his way to work, he will listen to a variety of bitcoin-related podcasts until he has consumed all the information they have to give. He will simultaneously view a variety of YouTube channels about the issue. He will rationally sort the data. He will question them. He will next talk to his buddies, who share his curiosity. He will evaluate his understanding with someone who may have finished a course or read a book on the subject. And voilà! He will have developed some authority on the subject. And it all started with a simple inquisitiveness!
Thus, let us work towards fanning the flame of curiosity among our children. Let them nurture the wonderment they were born with. Let them inquire. Learning will happen automatically. More than often if the child develops the eagerness to learn, it automatically leads to picking a book. And before they know it, books would have become an integral part of the learning curve. That’s the default phase, when many readers are born. But needn’t worry, if it doesn’t happen. Chill! Each to his own journey.
With these ideas, I would like to rest my thoughts. Hope they sparked some curiosity in you. Reading and that too the science behind it is a humongous topic to be covered in a single shot. The science of reading from the perspective of brain development, the drawbacks of reading (yes, there are many! ), the paradox of my own reading journey and that of my daughter, as well as the sweet-and-sour relationship between education and reading, will all be covered in the upcoming blogs. Stay tuned! Hope to meet you soon. 🙂
| *The Blog was originally written for Sankarsingh-Gonsalves Productions, Ontario, Canada and was published under the title: What you should look out for, if your child isn’t a reader? |
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