Reading increases vocabulary and improves comprehension. Books are a source of information, stimulation and imagination. As opposed to TV and video games which are fast-moving, books help children learn to focus and sustain attention. Besides, a child who knows the pleasure of curling up with a good book will not often be bored. Parents also find that as they regularly read together, they develop a special bond with their children.
What You Can Do
Start Early
Read aloud to your child on a daily basis starting even before his first birthday.
During their early years, spend just a few minutes at a time reading and stop as soon as she appears bored. As your children grow older, increase the length of the read-aloud period.
Establish a regular "story time", perhaps before naps or at bedtime.
Make story time enjoyable. Keep your child on your lap or beside you. Be prepared to read and reread his favourite story. (Hint: pick books that you can enjoy too!)
Choose colourful, attractive and picturesque books with good language. If the language is difficult for your child to understand, simplify it as you need.
Stop and talk about pictures, helps children to connect what they are hearing and what they are seeing.
Read Along With Your Child
Choose easy books with a lot of repetition and rhyme. When your child is able to read these easy books. You can gradually choose ones with more complex language.
Read Yourself
Let your child see you reading - newspapers, magazines or books as children learn through observation. Occasionally read out something interesting to your child from the paper or magazine. Let her see you using recipes or reading instructions for equipment so she sees it as a useful activity.
Word Games
Play word games with your child. Spend 5-10 minutes on these and remember to make it fun.
Remember you can keep increasing the complexity as the child grows.
Remember behaviours are learnt, so if you are watching the TV, the child would be watching too, if you are reading and spending time with books your child too would do that.
All this takes time and patience but the benefits are so great and long lasting that it is well worth the effort.
If you would like to discuss this further or need some help or support in this or any other area, our counsellors would be happy to help.
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kevinzac on 05 Jul 2022, 14:03 PM
There is a positive and flip side to every type of arrangement. One should consider and choose wisely what is suitable and healthy for themselves.reddevil99 on 18 Jan 2021, 21:11 PM
?You will often face parental and societal disapproval. Are you prepared to face the consequences or well equipped to keep up the secret? - So you consider this as something illegal and a taboo to keep this a secret??Keep issues of child bearing and rearing in mind. - Seriously What? Why does everyone want to talk about child and pregnancy when it comes to relationships and marriage?
?Don\'t drift into a live-in relationship try and talk about the future, think about being obligated to the other person, think about future commitments. - So to summarize, you\'re saying no to live-relationship and it\'s always about the future and commitments.
kjtk on 28 Sep 2020, 14:29 PM
poorly written -> highly judgemental article.Vaish16 on 15 Jul 2020, 11:31 AM
It\'s a good read for someone who has already experienced something of this sort but for someone who is considering to move in with their partner, I think the article was drifting more towards why live in relationships are a complete disaster. It kind of lost the neutrality aspect as the topic does not really specify the drawbacks only. The suggestions for discussion were pretty insightful.