Parents are often faced with the task of balancing their careers and the home front.
It is the duty of parents to monitor their kid’s education so that the resources invested in them does not come to a waste.
Reading is one important skill that a child needs to learn to succeed. If a child does not have interest in books, it will make it more difficult for the child to succeed at school.
Having a child who is not passionate about reading can be quite discouraging for parents. However, parents are sometimes responsible for a child’s inability to fall in love with reading.
Many parents advocate that children read from dusk to dawn as a sign of seriousness in school and a means to good grades.
Such parents end up being frustrated because the children do not have the same vision and do not have a passion for reading.
The pen is mightier than the sword, as the saying goes. This means a lot can be achieved when one is equipped with the right information and tasks that will normally require strength will be made simpler through information.
If as a parent, your child detests reading, then it could be for any of the following reasons:
- Your child does not see you read
If your children see you reading, they will want to copy you, its only natural.
- You don’t value and invest in books
If you prefer buying fashionable items to books, then you are teaching your child that which is more important to you. If you have more cartoon DVDs in your home than childrens’ books, then you are telling your child that that watching TV is more important than readings.
You should note that books do not necessarily have to be school oriented.
- You over-connect reading to grades
When you make getting good grades for example in English class, the primary purpose of reading for a child, you make him or her see reading as a chore, something to do and to get over with.
Children need to be taught that books are information and solution banks. Let them know that solutions to life problems are hidden in books.
- You encourage short cuts
Some parents ignorantly or intentionally prescribe and encourage children to take short routes to success through actions like aiding examination malpractice, solving homework problems for kids, giving out their school projects to someone else etc.
Children who are offered these short routes are made to believe parents will always be there to get things done for them. Sad to note.... only God has that attribute.
- You dislike your child’s teacher and you say it to your child’s hearing often
That child might end up not learning anything from the teacher. If you want your child to love learning naturally, you need to work hand in hand with the teachers and school management. You will be amazed at what you will achieve by this singular act.
- You have stopped learning
Your child probably dislikes his books because you told him or her that you have ‘‘finished school’’ and so there is no need for you to read.
The truth is there is no end to learning and the day we stop learning, we start to die. Let your child see you taking fresh courses all the time. Attend seminars and conferences. Learn new skills and let your child know about it. I still wear a back pack to work and am always proud when my child asks ‘‘which class are you’’? Let your children know that learning is a life-long activity.
- You don’t introduce books early enough
School should not be the first place your child will get in contact with books. As the child learns to sit, make sure books are part of his toys, you will be amazed that by the time the child is one year old, he or she will be flipping pages already and when he sees any book, he wants to have it. Start showing books to your child from infancy, if you ask me, I will say six months.
- You didn’t read to the child
Reading to infants is a sure way to make them appreciate books and develop reading skills. Make it a duty to start reading to your child at least from six months. You will arouse the child’s interest early and save yourself the stress of making the child read when he is grown.
Our nation needs to move from having people who read to people who show visible change in behaviour as a result of reading. We have many who passed through school but are not schooled.
Parents can pilot this task of reducing the number of educated illiterates our educational system churns out, a lot will be achieved if we start with the children.
Remember, they are your future, our future. We need to mould them now.
About the Author:
Bukola Amao-Taiwo, is an Educational Consultant that prefers to be called a teacher. She has a Masters' degree in Educational Administration, and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and School leadership. At every level of education she has worked, she advocates community participation in the development of the total child-one who will benefit the society. She presently anchors a radio program-OUR FUTURE on national radio. She is always inspired by the children as she passionately believes they are the future of the society.
Bukola Amao-Taiwo writes regularly on her blog www.bataiwo.blogspot.com
