“What you read comes into your mind, what is in your mind stirs your heart and drives you to act”, such were the word of F. LandaJocano, an anthropologist professor from UP.
Many of us would agree that aside from physical, emotional readiness, a child should be well prepared too in all aspects for learning to take place and inline of mental readiness is reading. The eagerness of a child to read, counts, so parents, teachers and school heads should take note of this. How?
- Nourish the body as well as the mind, nutritious food is essential for eye-brain development. Be aware also of early childhood diseases.
- Read and introduce letters in blocks, in form of lego or any item that would interest the child.
- Give him hard bound picture books with big bright pictures to encourage the child to hold and see it.
- Encourage vocabulary development so you need to give him a dictionary, teach him its uses and how it will help him to find words needed in his studies and daily communication. Two to three words a day will expound his knowledge.
- Encourage the fifth graders and high schoolers to read newspaper, periodicals autobiographies, history and literature books. This helps refine the child’s aesthetic sense and nationalistic views.
- Have a reading time with your child. The ideal is two hours in a week. Talk about what you both have read, what the child thinks about a certain event or character.
Lastly be ready for your child’s wish for you to buy him a book or accompany him to the library just to replenish his thirst for reading. Remember a good reader may become one of the good leaders in the future.
By: Rose Darren G. Buenaventura | T-I | Mariveles National High School (Cabcaben)| Mariveles, Bataan
