Reading is important to prepare our child for future learning.  It provides life-long benefits if we can cultivate a good reading habit.  The first 6 years in a child’s life is the best time for him to freely explore as much information as possible through books.  Once they enter primary school, their time will be occupied for tuition, homework, project papers, exams and so on.

What are the benefits of reading for our child?

• Reading promotes speech and language development.  Toddlers learn to talk by listening and observing the lips movement when the adult talks.  When we are reading a book to our child, he is listening and following the story line through the illustration in the book.  He is developing his imagination and creativity as well as learning to be more expressive in his speech.

• Reading helps improving vocabulary and pronunciation.  Our child learns more new words from  reading.  When a child is reading out loud, we can help improve his pronunciation.

• Reading exercises the brain and calm the mind.  It helps improve our child’s memory with more brain exercises take place.  This lead to intellectual development of our child.  The child becomes more focus and able to pay attention in his work.  You may notice that a child who reads are more calmer.  When the child is facing difficulties or problems, he is able to stay calm and attempt to find solution.

• Reading helps our child expand his knowledge and information.  He develops better understanding towards his surrounding.  He learns to find out answers for himself whenever he has a question “why” about the world that he is staying.  This encourages him to promote interest in learning.  He becomes more confident and independent.

How can we nurture our child’s reading habit?

We need to have a book corner in our home and school.  Find a small area at home.  It’s advisable to find a corner that have enough sunlights or bright enough for reading.

Prepare a shelf according to the child’s height.  Display variety of books on the shelve.  Put a carpet or pillows or child size chair and table at the corner.

The child is given freedom to choose the book he likes to read whenever he feels like it.

Remind the child to replace the book on the shelf after reading.  Teach the child to take care of the books on the shelf, which means no tearing or scribbling on the books.  This will help him to cultivate a sense of order and self-discipline.  Set these as ground rules at the book corner area.

Don’t forget to prepare some papers and color pencils or crayons on the table.  This allow the child to draw or make craft after reading.  He is reinforcing his creativity and imagination.

A book corner at home and in school enable us to cultivate the good reading habit among children.  We are encourage to read together at the book corner.  Spending private time with our child doing reading is actually encouraging our child to read and build his habit.

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