AS winter gently disappears for this year and the unrelenting sun begins to shine on much of Oman, people are going to be indoors as much as they can, bar the evenings to catch the cool breeze. How to keep children occupied is a question many wonder, especially as outdoor games and group activities have become so rare.
Reading as a family used to be commonplace for many years.
Much before technology took over our world, families would sit together reading and the bedtime stories was standard practice. There is no reason that this pastime should not be continued.
These days when parents and children stay distracted with so many diversions, setting up a time to read together is invaluable. There are many reasons for this.
As The Los Angeles Times says, “Reading books with your young child and telling stories together can reduce stress, strengthen family bonds and support your child’s social-emotional development. Reading together also helps your child develop vocabulary and learning skills necessary to thrive in school”.
Reading together is a great way to understand children’s interests as they are growing up. It does not have to be stressful. In fact, reading together should not be about assessing the child’s proficiency or speed. It is not about judging but sharing.
Having said that, of course reading, at times reading aloud, helps in cognitive development and language development. Being able to process new information, guess meanings and understand concepts is a large part of the measurable outcomes of reading. When this is done together, it can increase a child’s curiosity and confidence.
Reading, telling and sharing stories also help in developing children’s empathy and cultural understanding. It helps to open the windows of the world to introduce them to diverse worlds and develop sensitivity and understanding of others.
Children are known to be creative and imaginative. Reading together gives them a chance to explore the limits of their imagination. Guided by elders, whether parents or siblings, reading leads to discussions, even related stories and songs – there are no limits to the imagination.
Being role models is an important part of parenting.
Reading together gives children the belief that it is an important and enjoyable part of a daily routine if parents are reading with them. It does not help if children are made to sit with a book and parents are on a digital screen – that is setting up the wrong message.
There are many techniques to plan reading moments. These can include setting up a daily routine, whether before or after meals, in the afternoons after school, or even on a weekend morning. Anytime that is convenient to everybody and can be set as a routine works well. What is important is that it becomes an enjoyable activity and not a chore.
In today’s world, parents find less time to spend with their families as they juggle home and work responsibilities. Setting some time apart to read together will enhance the quality of the time spent while adding to the creative imagination of young minds.
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