Value Bookshop's Reading Notes

The KL International Book Fair was held recently. With the idea of expanding my little bookshop, I went to check it out hoping to hook up with some distributors with good children books. I’ve been going to these book fairs the last few years and the experience is always the same. There is greater emphasis on teaching children to read rather than to love reading. As I was browsing through the stalls, I was quickly pulled aside by a salesman who insisted that his program will get my child reading by 3 years of age. The idea was to get them to watch cartoons that would flash words at the bottom of the screen. These visuals, he says, is what will help them learn how to read. And there are activity books to go along with the vcd. Of course, I didn’t buy into that idea.

But the reason why I was talking to him in the first place was because I saw displayed in his stall some books that I felt children would love to read. The first thing I told him when he approached me was my intention to buy books to resell at my shop. But I guess he decided to ignore that and tried to sell me his ‘wonderful’ program. I was disappointed.

Looking around I also saw an assortment of reading gadgets, workbooks, revision books and more programs to get your child reading. I thought to myself, YOU GUYS ARE MISSING THE POINT! Reading is more than just deciphering words on a page.

The ‘kiasu’ epidemic among parents is widespread. The race to get a child to read as early as possible sometimes dismisses the idea that first, we have to teach our children to love reading and love books. How do we do that?

1. Read with your children without any ‘teaching’ agenda. Read just for the pure reason of enjoying the story. Pick up a book and say “I wonder what this story is about?” Create curiosity in your child. Show your own excitement and joy when reading e.g. “Oh, I can’t wait to read what happens next.”

2. Make connections to the story as you read. Make comments like:
“Hey, you are the same age as the boy in this book.”
“Soon you will be going to school like Sister Bear here. Are you as nervous as she is?”
“Look, she can dress her ownself, just like you.”
You could even make your own personalized book — A Book About Me. Children love to read about themselves.

3. Get your child involved in the story. Ask thought provoking questions:
“What do you think he should do?”
“Do you think it is right what she did?”
“How do you think it will end?”
“What would you have done?”
“Which part of the story did you like? Why?”

4. Bring the story to life with expressions and using different voices.

Now, some of you parents may say, my child is too young for this kind of reading. They can’t sit still, they don’t pay attention, and they would rather chew on the book. I say read anyway. You don’t have to make it a 30 minute reading session. If they can only take 3 minutes of reading, grab that opportunity. Find something appropriate to read like a nursery rhyme book. Instill in them the idea that when a book is opened, something exciting happens e.g. mommy sits down with me, she sings, she does silly voices and faces, we move our hands and fingers etc….
Have them equate book=fun time.

So please remember, reading is more than just memorizing words on a page. Aim to have your child love reading, not just to be able to read.

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