Wachal tar Vachal... Reading a Saviour

My mother always shares my memories of holding the pen in hand whole day wherever I go. I had that habit of noting down things as and when needed. No wonder I have always been writing and reading a lot. At times, I even keep the used newspaper, one which is used to cover shelves, if my eyeballs catch something new in it.

I actually used to tuck the pen in my dress as men do in their pockets. Further the pen went to my purse or bags along with small diary. Today when I see same habit in my daughter I try to encourage her to scribble with the pen. Thankfully she hasn’t scribbled my walls yet.

She draws some picture of a girl, every time its mom and sometimes when it had small beard like hairs on chin its baba. She writes alphabets and numbers on her book, imitating me when I write.

She is too small to read anything apart from her alphabets. I got some books for her and prepared a small child library. She very proudly shares mom, that’s my library.

I want to inculcate that reading habit in her and thus I keep trying different tricks, but to my realization that she is still four and identifies alphabets and numbers only. I hold back my urge to make her read.

I was sitting in my balcony accompanied by her besides me. Of course, I was reading out story to her. That’s the practice we follow whenever, she feels like listening or say demands for a story. We have been doing this as practice. When I was done with her reading and picked my novel, she went back to her book and started reading the bold letters on the cover page….F..A…I…R..Y  T..A..L..E..S….fairy tales, right mummy? And that’s the beginning she started reading anything in bold letters she found everywhere in the house. Names of biscuits, any wrapper she found, brand of television, refrigerator, movie names, clothes brands and bold names in newspapers.

One night I slept with the thought of buying new books for her as we are almost done reading all stories to her. I was also thinking how do I make her read books. We had serious discussion wherein my husband calmed me down saying she is small in a year or, so she will start reading, I should not worry and hurry as well. You can buy books online he said. And I slept with the happy thought of online book shopping.

Next morning my baby got up before me, while I was still in my bed she arranged few pillows to reach her library and got duckling book in her hand. She got it and sat near my pillow showing me the pictures and started reading…once an upon a time there lived a duck with her three little ducklings…….she couldn’t read, but she read the story the way she knew and recollected it, while she was turning pages……that was so cute. Her gesture made me so happy and content.

Moral of the story is, children copy you, imitate you in whatever you do. Be what you want your child to be.

In Marathi, we have saying “Wachal tar Vachal” reading saves. Here are some tricks I practiced making my child read.

· Introduce a funny reading game to your child by reading alternate lines. Making funny voices, act at times to develop their interest in it. Have some game of interest like who reads well, who reads faster etc.

· Bring books that are interesting at that age, where they can learn something new. That has catchy pictures as well.

· Never decide what they should read. Always give them choice. Let them learn to select and find their own interest. Expose them to various languages, authors and pictures and choose the best of their interest.

· Worshiping books will never bring goddess saraswati to your house. Let children find her when they turn the pages. Let them mark some points take notes, write new words. Introduce new words in their day to day vocabulary.

· Do not force child to read, make reading a pleasure for him. Convincing them to read would make it another task for them. Give them anything that interests them, some comic, some newspaper cutting, or just advertisements anything that they love to read,that will increase the interest and will be pleasure for them.

· Introduce games like searching words on the page of book. Teach Synonyms for some word or word puzzles for kids. Teach them use of one new word every day. Search for new words in newspaper or books.

· Create something like a book club with child and his friends, wherein they share their reading, the books and share the stories. Let them exchange their books and readings. Encourage them with the highest book reader. Peers are always motivating factor, and reading with friends will make the process exciting.

· The bookshelf for the kid should be handy. The child should be able to play with the book as and when he wants. Do not keep it high fearing the child may tear it.

· Create a cozy reading or writing corner for children. Add something like comfortable desk to read with lovely cushions and reading light. The ambience may excite the child and see that you keep the reading lights on at specific time, such that it becomes schedule.

· Keep variety of books to understand the child’s likes and dislikes of subjects. Encourage all type of reading.

· Keep the books handy at different locations as per their subject. Bedtime stories near bed, art and craft near play area cartoons stories in drawing room. Also keep a book for notes.

Prefer books than any gadget. It’s safe for eyes, it gives better understanding. Children feel comfortable with books than being anxious with gadgets. It may get tore but unless the child handles it, it won’t. Let the child handle it, see it, touch and feel the books to get that ownership.

Believe me it gives immense pleasure to see your child reading on his own.