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Generation
Next and the Reading Habit
" I love to read, but my child
doesn't!"Sound familiar?
 Well,
you need not be the one saying it anymore. I've
been interacting with children for five years now,
having worked in a school library and as a freelancer
conducting workshops in reading enrichment. I have
realized that it only takes a few inputs from you
to get your child interested.
Give your child a model to imitate. You probably
read while the child is asleep, or in school, but
that way your child doesn't see you and can't emulate
you. So, be seen holding a book, reading
it, getting excited about it. Quote passages or
narrate incidents to your child or spouse.
 Spend
some time reading with your child. Spend at
least fifteen minutes a day, five times a week,
reading and talking about what's in the book. Clarify
values, non-judgmentally as far as possible. Like:
Loyalty v/s. honesty: the character saw his best
friend cheat - should he tell teacher? You'll be
surprised at the insights your youngster comes out
with, given half a chance.
 If
you can, take your child to bookshops. Give
her a budget, discuss the choice of books. I've
seen kids as young as six understand what a budget
is, and stick to it. It's best not to buy expensive
books for your children - you shouldn't be saying,
"Be careful with that book!" so often that your
child gets put off books completely. I've got scribbles
or food stains on all my first books, and today
I bristle if anyone so much as dog-ears a book.
A kid who loves books can be taught how to care
for them at a later stage.
For absolute non-readers, start with non-fiction.
He likes cricket? Fine. There are several books
and magazines on the game and the players. Usually,
non-readers consider reading 'stories' a waste of
time. So hook them with something that's not a waste
of time, according to them.
 A
subscription to any magazine in the child's name
gives the child a feeling of receiving something
that's uniquely for her. And that can just turn
the key!
Ownership: A rubber-stamp with "LIBRARY OF PRANAV"
is a conversation piece! And giving books as
presents/prizes/return gifts during parties is a
good way to get the peer group interested as well.
Parents, the reading habit is not dying out. I've
seen nine-year-olds fighting over a copy of "Black
Beauty", and a two-year-old sleeping with her favourite
book under the pillow. All it takes from you is
a little tap in the right direction.
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