7 reasons why you must teach kids to read

 

         Source: internet

“Have you ever met a person who was a great reader when they were young, who was not successful? Never! It is the absolute best foundation, ever!” – Oprah Winfrey

It is every parents dream to see their kids succeed in life, and to watch them become better citizens who contributes to the larger society. Paradoxically, we do not equip them with the fundamental foundation required for success in life, which is reading.

It is important to realize that children do not hear us, but they imitate everything we do instead. Let us lead by example, especially when it comes to reading. I genuinely believe that everyone is a reader, and those who think they are not, clearly they have not found their favourite book yet.

Imagine a community where we can start a culture of buying each other books for our kids habitually as gifts (during their birthdays for instance), and encourage them to read. Do you realize what kind of citizens they would later become in their adult life?

Below are the seven reasons why I believe informal education through reading could help children discover their gifts and reach their full potential.

1.    Rich vocabulary and memory improvements

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” – Proverbs 22:6.

The earlier and wider you read, the more words you gain exposure to. But it is never too late to start reading even for adults. Reading equip you with rich vocabulary, which gives you content and upper hand in your daily conversations.  

Reading expand your horizons (defined as the limit of a person's knowledge, experience, or interest). Consequently, the capacity to which you can store and retain information (memory) in your brain increases.

2.    Critical thinking and stronger analytical skills

“There is no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books.” – James Patterson

Kids have an insatiable curiosity to figure out how the world works. Books, on the other hand, can help kids to discover some of the answers they seek and at the same time, spark more curiosity, which prompt them to ask parents or older siblings for clarity.

Generally, when you get better at reading, a certain book will force you to apply your mind and to remember all the characters, their backgrounds, ambitions, scenes, and all kinds of nuances, so that you can grasp the story and its moral behind book.

The majority of skilled authors deliberately leave out scenes and characters to keep readers in suspense, giving them an opportunity to connect the dots until the title of the book or the whole concept of the book makes sense.

This way, the readers mind is stimulated and enticed to be more curious to find out different ways to solve problems even outside the scope of the book itself.

3.    Reading makes you a better conversationalist.

“Improved reading skills actually makes people better speakers…reading is shown to improve both the accuracy and fluency of speaking” – Study.com

Human beings are social animals that are hard wired for stories. Stories have the power to connect us. Kids love stories of any sorts, especially bedtime stories. Research shows that reading stories to your children is one of the best ways to strengthen your bond with them.

Reading widely exposes you to many stories that are told from different books. The more stories you read and tell, the more adept you become at storytelling and the better you become in connecting with others in crucial conversations. In my opinion, based on observations, women are better conversationalists that men.

Apart from the statistics which indicates that women use an average of 20,000 words a day, compared to a mere 7,000 that men utters, research show that there are 130 million books in print globally, and 65% of sold books were bought by women.

Women do not only buy more but read more books than men. According to Jamie Ballard – Data Journalist, women (9%) are more than four times likely as men (2%) to say they read more than 50 books per year. That speaks volumes as to why women are better conversationalist than men.

4.    Laser-sharp focus and improved concentration

“You can never be fully present with your phone and fully present with your family at the same time. But with a book, you can.” - Anonymous

The reason why people are told to be quiet in libraries at all times is not only to minimize distractions but to maximize concentration and focus.

To experience the essence of this, try reading for 15-20 minutes daily for a week before you go to work. If you use public transport, you can read while commuting to work in the morning or listen to an inspiring audio book in your car as you drive to work.

You will be surprised at how much more focused and productive you are once you get to the office.

5.    Better writing skills

“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.” – Stephen King

A friend of mine once told me he does not trust people who do not read, especially those who talk too much. He then asked, where do they get their information from? Obviously from sources that are not credible, he said. Hence he does not trust them.

In the same fashion, you cannot be a good writer if you do not read. Reading gives you the capacity or the skill to write better. Exposure to well-written work has a noted effect on one’s own writing, as observing the coherence, fluidity, and writing styles of other authors will invariably influence your own work. The earlier you expose your kids to reading, the earlier and better they become at writing.

6.    Reading helps you discover your passion, purpose and the meaning of your life.

“Literature is the art of discovering something extraordinary about ordinary people, and saying with ordinary words something extraordinary” - Unknown

When you read a book as a child or adult that resonates with you, it becomes a part of your identity. In a way that no other reading material or activity in your whole life does, research finds.

In books, we never find anything but ourselves and that makes us feel more alive and happy. The greatest pleasure is when you discover a subject that resonates more with the core of your being and you decide to make a career out of it.

7.    Free entertainment in a tranquil fashion

“A library is a hospital for the mind.” - Anonymous

A mind is constantly seeking entertainment and the moment it is deprived of this need, it can start to suffer from boredom or stress, which can lead to different forms of mental illnesses.

Og Mandino, the author of “The greatest salesman in the world” was on the verge of committing suicide, he went to the library and read the book titled “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill and his life turned around.

Psychologists say that 86% of our self-talk is negative and it goes undetected by the subconscious mind until it affects us mentally in a negative way. Reading, on the other hand, help us to condition our minds consciously in a positive manner, while entertaining us at the same time.

“Wherever I am, if I have a book with me, I have a place I can go and be happy” – J.K Rowling. In addition to the relaxation and happiness that comes from reading a good book, it is possible that the subject you read on can bring about immense inner peace and tranquility.

In conclusion, the importance of teaching our kids to read and better still, to read with them can never be overly emphasized. There is no way you can enjoy all the books you read but there is a high chance you will find the right ones eventually, keep searching.