Reading can be fun too!

With the advent of Television, computer, video games and a host of other such components of modern technology, books have been flung to t...

With the advent of Television, computer, video games and a host of other such components of modern technology, books have been flung to the backstage. 8220;My son does not want books as gifts unlike we did. He demands videogames or CD ROMS instead,8221; says Manorama Dutta, a housewife. Trips to bookshops seem boring to kids. They would rather sit at home and watch their favourite cartoon strip. 8220;We read enough books at school. Also, to gain knowledge, you don8217;t need to read thick books. The internet is also useful,8221; retorts Rajat shinde, a class seven student.

Why do our parents and teachers constantly harp upon the need to read? The answer is simple. Books are surely more enriching than television or the internet. Though a plethora of information is available on the net, it is best to combine it with the knowledge provided through books. Reading helps develop vocabulary, imagination and the power to analyse. By books one doesn8217;t mean only encyclopedias, dictionaries, or thesaurus8217;. Fiction, novels or for that matter comics also prove to be extremely enriching. Instead of watching gruesome action scenes, or lewd dance sequences, books prove to be a positive recreation.

If the advantages of reading are so many, why have children today drifted away from this activity? 8220;Children these days are so overburdened with studies in school, that on coming back home they like to do other things,8221; says Manjula Krishnan, an entrepreneur. There are many other entertaining activities which occupy the child better. 8220;It8217;s the parents responsibility to inculcate the habit of reading in their children. if the parents don8217;t read, neither will the children,8221; says Malti Kelkar an educationist. Simple things like making the child read the newspaper daily, are helpful. Parents should not impose their choice on the child. Suggest a few books that you have read and then let the child decide. Knowing the child8217;s interests is of prime importance.But very few parents have the time to devote to this aspect. Children do not read books simply because most of the times there is no one to answer their queries.

To inculcate the habit of reading, it is important to start early. Ask your parents to read out to you at bed time, going to bookshops and libraries can prove to be of great help. After having read the book, sit down with your parents or friends and analyse it. An important reason why children don8217;t read is that the colours, movement and themes on the electronic media are more attractive than books. Therefore the need is to make reading an enjoyable experience. You can compensate by making pictures relating to the book. Reading can be made really interesting. Choose the proper environment for reading. A quiet, open place is ideal for the activity. A group of friends can read aloud. Ask your friends to act out certain parts of the books or discuss the characters. Parents8217; involvement also goes a long way in encouraging children to read. This way you can also get to spend some quality time with your parents.

Education in our schools does not stress on reading books apart from the course readers. Simply memorising chapters gets the students high marks. Therefore importance of reading through the chapters carefully, or doing reference work is not felt. Merely spending half an hour in the library does not help. Starting from the primary level, the teacher should inculcate a liking towards reading amongst the students, by suggesting a few readings.

Simply blaming the electronic media or the present educational system for the dwindling interest of children in reading is not right. Parents should instead review their own attitude toward reading, and make it an enthralling experience.