PARENTAL INFLUENCE (PART II)

"Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift." — Kate DiCamillo

It’s amazing how reading can change the life of an individual. We are yet to know of any positive man of influence in the whole wide world who didn’t read and earnestly seek for information. Therefore, the most powerful gift one can give a child is the ability to read and enjoy books.

Did you know that.....?

Reading to your children at least up to the age of ten (10) helps to sharpen their skill of imagery and questioning which are very crucial strategies for reading comprehension?

Children who are read to and who love reading tend to write better. They find it easier to write good essays, books and keep diaries than children who don’t?

They know and have a clearer picture of what they want to be in future earlier in life than others who don’t read or read their school books only?

Children who are exposed to books are sharper, outspoken, brighter and more inquisitive than their peers who do not read?

Reading helps children keep calm and focus better?

One of the secrets to getting your children to be lovers of books is to let them choose the books they want to read. Maya Angelou understood that when she said “any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him”.

PARENTAL INFLUENCE (PART 1)

Children are made readers on the laps of their parents – Emilie Buchwald

Parents play a huge role in influencing children. As we all know, parents are the first teachers children come in contact with. Emilie Buchwald believes that children are made readers on the laps of their parents. There is no hard and fast rule to it. Research has been able to prove that children’s cognitive, mental, oratory and social skills develop faster when they hear their parents reading, talking, and singing to them even from as early as one month old. Reading to children is very powerful and one cannot overemphasize it.

In addition, children who are familiar with books, writing materials and being read to prior to starting school have a higher chance of performing better than other peers who are just encountering reading and writing in school for the first time. This could be frustrating for teachers because they have to deal with children with different developmental levels and it could be frustrating for parents too because some of them compare their children with other children who might have been exposed to literacy skills prior to the time they started school.

Why not give your child a better chance at succeeding in life by exposing them to reading early. Do you think it’s already too late because your child is already in primary or secondary school? We believe it’s not. Start today!

 

 

The Magic in Books

 

When I look back, I am so impressed again with the life-giving power of literature. If I were a young person today, trying to gain a sense of myself in the world, I would do that again by reading, just as I did when I was young. – Maya Angelou.

 

What first comes to your mind when you encounter the name, “Magical Books”?

For us, Magical Books stems from what we belief; that in between pages of books, lays a powerful force. There are millions of books around us. Some are inspiring, motivating, educating while some have the power to destroy, they are dangerous, and they bring in bad emotions like depression, doubt and unbelief.

Books have the power to change our lives forever and for us, that’s where the magic lies. Dave Johnson understood how powerful books are when he said, “where you will be five years from now will depend on the books you read, what you listen to  and the people you associate with" .

Books have a way of changing our thinking, lifestyle and influencing our decisions, plans and probably our ambitions. They have the power to motivate and propel us to achieve things we consider unimaginable. So you see, books are magical!

To understand this power, is to spend time reading and also tread carefully in the books we choose to read.