For children, reading can make them live their
imagination. As adults we can remember the time our parents read stories or
books for us. During that time, we also imagine about the stories we’ve been
told. Like “how a sleeping beauty is look
like?”, “what are super power a fairy has?” or “how strong a super hero could be?”. Every story that we have been
listened or read, encourages our imagination.
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Reading lit up imagination |
Books compete with various gadgets nowadays. Gadgets more
vibrant and enthusiastic visually and in audio. They engage children attention
immensely. Now compare with books, only books with pictures that seem interesting
for children. Mostly, children only pay attention in pages that contain
pictures. But that is the nature of children. They love vibrant colours and
pictures. And book do really have serious competitors in this currents time. How often will children read
books if they do not take interest in it?
We do aggree with statement: do not give pressure to young child to be able to read. Reading skill should be taught based on children readiness and development. But reading
is not all about able to read the words. Indeed, reading is one of the key
skills to learn subjects. But not only that. By reading, we can gain
informations, knowledges, experiences, and insights (Wahyuni, 2009). Reading can
form one’s point of view and responses toward their life events. So it is
important since it could play signifince role in our life.
Reading is a habit that started before children can read.
Reading habit does not emerge automatically. It is formed (Pujiastuti, 2010). How
do we help them to form it?
- Make children familiar with books from early age. Reading
interest can be stimulated from the time children were born. In the age of 0-2 years, children’s
brain develop rapidly. Around 80% of our brain capacity formed in this period. Children
also very receptive in this time, they can absorb everything with strong memory.
We can introduce books from this time, make books as their “friends”. Choose books
that have bright colours and made from materials that not easily torn, then
present to them. Of course the books will be a toy for them, but they will
recognize book as fun experience they can choose. Not only playing with dolls,
car, or sands, they also indentify reading as fun as those play activities. We can
also put books in display, so they feel books are something close to them.
Set up environmet that make children familiar with books - Give age-appropriate books. It is not relevant to give
children text books since children more eager to engange books with full
colours, lots of drawings, and lot of pictures. Older children, especially
those who already read fluently, are capable to read more text or long stories.
Children in early age interested in pictures, vibrant colours, contrast colours, and texture (picture from here) - Storytelling or read aloud with children. It is important that children enjoy reading activities. To make it fun, we can read them with storytelling way. In dynamic tone, role play, various expression, sing, and converse of what we read. With the child that already able to read, we can read along with them or make a role play of the story with them.
- Give example. Children memorize and imitate what their parents do. Read regularly. Not only books of course, like newspapers or other sources that improve our knowledge. It can lit their love for reading.
(Laelatus Syifa S.
A. & Novita)
References
Pujiastuti, A. (2010). Reading Interest Improvement Among Early Age
Children through Story with Pictures in Griup B Dharma Putera II Genukharjo
Kindergaten. Thesis. University of
Muhammadiyah Surakarta.
Wahyuni, S. (2009). Stimulate
Reading Interest for Literate Society. Diksi
16 (2). https://journal.uny.ac.id/index.php/diksi/article/view/6617
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