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Encouraging children to read

PostPosted: January 23rd, 2012, 12:58 pm
by admin
How to encourage children to read
ASK NANAY By Socorro C. Ramos (The Philippine Star) Updated January 22, 2012 12:00 AMComments (0)

Dear Nanay,

I just discovered your column in STAR a few weeks ago and I must say that I enjoy it very much. I have also seen the weekly discussion about reading and how it is important to our children.

I am sorry if this question has been asked before but I would like to know what is the best way for me to encourage my children to read. I am the mother of two very young boys, ages one and two. And I don’t think I want any more because having two kids is more than a handful!

Thank you and more power to you. — Myrna Angeles

Dear Myrna,

First of all, why do you want to stop at only two children? Di ba sabi nga nila (don’t they say), the more the merrier! Joking aside, reading and education have always been my advocacies so I never hesitate to try and promote them whenever I can. So please do not apologize for asking me anything about reading.

I think the best thing that you can do to encourage your young sons to read is to spend time reading with them…every day. If you can set aside 30 minutes or one hour each day and read with them, this will go a very long way in keeping them interested in books as they grow up. When you read to them, you might think that they do not understand what you are saying or that they are not listening. But believe me, nakikinig ang mga bata (they are listening). And that is how they learn. They are like sponges for information. They learn a little bit each day and after a while before you know it, nagbabasa na rin ang mga anak mo (they are reading on their own)!

In today’s world of video games, television and the Internet, it is very easy for our children to turn away from books, which require “more effort” to enjoy. Walang “instant gratification” ang libro (There is no instant gratification from books). But it is also precisely this “effort” that is needed to help feed their minds and develop their abilities.

Make the investment today. Commit your time and energy while it is still early. And I assure you that when your children are ready for school, and you see how well prepared they are and how well they will do, you will be very thankful that you took my advice and spent all those hours reading with them during their early years.

Sincerely,

Nanay

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