In London Warren Leb, a teenager of 17 years old killed his dearest friend with a sword, inspired from his favourite computer video game ‘Man hunt’. Similarly a 15 year old boy from New Zealand killed his grandmother after seeing another video game. In the last 10 years video games paved way to many murders all over the world. Anxious parents all over the world have already started shutting down their computers to bring their kids back to books world.

Success through reading

‘Goodness of kids through books’ – now this idea is gaining popularity world-wide. Parents have already started thinking of different methods to bring kids back to books word. To make kids well-disciplined and less mischievous, books is the best solution. Now such organizations have already started functioning in USA and many foreign countries than before.

The slogan of The Children’s Reading Foundation is ’20 minutes reading of mother and child together every day’. When a kid reads with his mother it increases his self-confidence and language power. He values reading and this reading habit can stimulate his brain growth and development easily. Very soon, those 20 minutes will become the most beautiful moments of both mother and kid’s 24 hours a day – says the foundation.

“Kids never read books. They are interested in cartoons and computer games only”, every moment each parent complaints so. But it’s not true – says kid psychologists. Kids really love books even in this hi-tech life style – they say. Such kids will get success in reading competitions as well as public general exams. Instead of complaining about kids, create a family atmosphere filled with peace so that he can read comfortably. When a kid hesitates to read and insist on computer games try to learn their minds so that they can be brought back to books rather than feeling anxious. Now it’s not possible to live in a world without computers and television. Better idea is to teach them the importance of books and why reading should be preferred most.

Enter books world through plays

Reading habit should be started from play school age itself, at the age of 2.5 or 3. Mother and kid or father and kid – reading should be an interesting activity between a child and anyone of his parents.

Kids in the age group two to five need colourful books with beautiful pictures. They need less description only. Such books are widely available in market which are prepared as per instructions of child specialists and psychologists. Finding paths, recognizing flowers and animals, number count etc are interesting activities that parents can introduce to kids. When learning starts through interesting games, kids start liking books. For small kids, books with the shapes of fruits and vegetables are also available in book stores. Jigsaw puzzles that can be joined together to get birds or animals and colouring books can bring kids to colourful world of letters and alphabets. Kids like colouring, drawing and puzzles a lot.

Some kids like observing pictures than reading. Encourage them. Tell them small stories and sing songs of those nursery books. Give explanations in between reading. Ask small questions while telling stories. It will increase kid’s concentration and grasping power. A kid will never feel bored with a repetitive story, but you need to present it with freshness and good flow to catch his attention easily.

A kid who observes his mother tearing newspapers to wrap vegetables will never respect books. A kid learns from his surroundings and his parents most. If a kid sees his parents reading newspaper daily he will learn that newspaper is for reading purposes.

Small kids may tear newspaper or books easily. Just make them understand that paper and books are for reading and ask him to observe his mother reading books daily. You can change his attention by showing beautiful pictures in the newspaper or books and can teach him too. Approach kids in this soft manner if they try to tear papers or destroy books. Slowly he begins to respect books and alphabets. When he begins reading he may commit mistakes. Instead of teasing him teach him repeatedly.

What to read at early ages? Kids' tastes are different

Never impose your tastes and decisions on kids. Just make them available good books and magazines. When your 10 year old kid reads sports page ignoring front page, encourage him. Tastes of elders and kids will never coincide. Whole throughout the world, kids love stories and comic books most. Adventures, magic, jokes, ghost stories, folk stories, detective stories – kids may like different types of books at different ages. Small kids like animal stories most.

When a kid reaches 10, in addition to fiction he may like handicrafts, drawing, painting, fashion, vehicles, sports, science etc. His tastes remain the same till he reaches almost 15.

Reading habits of girls and boys are entirely different. Journal of Education Media says that girls spend more time for books than boys. Girls love things touching their souls and that’s the reason why when they become adults, they spend a lot of time for melodrama serials aired on television. Since they prefer emotional and touching stories displaying emotions, many such stories are still alive even after centuries. Best example is Cindrella and prince.
Girls are comparatively less interested in sports, but she loves fantasies a lot. When a girl enters teens her interests include health, beauty care, romance, marriage, fashion etc. boys prefer adventure, comedy and detective stories in fiction most. In non-fiction section, sports, sciences, defense and automobiles are their preferences. Parents should be able to identify the differences in their tastes and buy books according to it. Never complaint that they have chosen wrong subjects to read.

Give preference to mother tongue

A kid communicates through his mother tongue. Also his mind and brain grasp and understand things through his mother tongue – the language that he uses regularly. So, never think that your kids should only read English books. Give them children’s publications of their mother tongue along with English books to read. It makes them respect their mother tongue and know the language more. It helps them to learn English and other foreign languages easily also.

If your kid is not interested in reading newspaper, there is a solution to make him feel interest in reading it. For example, if our country is participating in any sports like Olympics, Asiad, Common wealth games etc give him a brief explanation of the event like a story. Then you can tell him about medal expectations of our country. Curious kid will surely check newspaper in coming days to know if our country has achieved something in the competition. Now kids need to do a lot of project works for which such pieces of information is necessary. Help him if required.

Psychologists have an opinion that kids need to start reading after 5 years only. Till then, observation through pictures is enough. If a kid of 5 years is able to identify all alphabets he is really intelligent. Never instruct a small kid below 5 years to read.

Reading – what are its boundaries?

Many parents feel anxiety if kids read elders’ magazines. If magazines are of good publications never feel worried. Parents may be reluctant in talking certain matters to their kids. Such magazines do that job giving scientific explanations as well.

But if you feel that kid will be confused, you can tell them, “you are too young to understand its meaning. After one or two years, I will tell you its meaning. Now no problem even if you don’t read”. Your reply should be cool enough to comfort her. Never burst out if you happened to see her reading something not desired.

If you tear a few pages of the magazine or preventing them from reading raises their curiosity for sure. If your kid happens to read crime stories like rape from newspapers, just tell him that that girl met with a danger since she left her home without the knowledge of anyone. Handle such subjects in this manner. Let your kids be aware of the society and its bad faces so that they can protect themselves from such dangers. No need to feel anxious that such news may disturb your kids. Let your kid learn a new lesson from each evil happening in the society.

Let us begin today itself

Start a healthy reading habit at home today itself. Just keep in mind these points.

• Make a home library for your kid collecting good books and magazines.
• Give preference to your kid’s favourite subjects while setting the home library.
• Give your kid books instead of toffies during special occasions and celebrations.
• Spare half hour for reading everyday along with your kid to grow his reading habit.
• Ask them to keep notes of important things they read. Good quotes can be noted in their bedrooms too.
• Spare a little time for newspaper reading. Encourage your kids to read newspaper every day.
• Keep good magazines and paper cuttings as references.
• Give preference to mother tongue while choosing books for reading.
• Appreciate your kid’s reading habit before everyone. It prompts him to grow his reading habit.
• Now reading is also possible through tablet screens and mobile phones. Once in a while give such pieces of technology reading too, for a change. 

New forms of reading

Now e-reading and e-books are gaining popularity. Now kids’ activities and books can be downloaded free from different sites. Book reading is possible through android mobiles. Many free software applications are there to provide its reading facility. e-reader instruments that store hundreds of books are also available.

Sites, blogs and social networks open new windows for reading and learning new things. But parents’ supervision is needed when a kid enters e-world. Reason is pretty clear – cyber world and its hidden dangers enough to ruin a kid’s mind and life forever.

In a most recent global survey, 87% kids told that they like printed books than e-books. The touch, smell and sensations of a printed book can’t be replaced by a book of virtual cyber world. Kids become attached to books most as they can touch and feel the real books.

In short, even in countries where all printed books are available in net printing and printed books never die. The goodness of books and reading showers its blessings and sweet smell till now and I am sure, it will stay there till the end of the world.