There is no argument that education is extremely important from a young age, with parents and educators striving to keep their children engaged in the classroom. Sometimes, it can seem rather tedious to come up with fun and interactive methods for children to stimulate the mind and have fun doing it.
The Covid-19 pandemic seemingly turned the world upside down, and drastically changed the way kids and teenagers learn. Many students struggled in an online learning capacity, which is slowly easing as more of them end up back in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, many students found it extremely challenging to keep up with online lectures via Zoom and other streaming outlets, with distractions readily available.
Instead of keeping busy with school and reading, many students picked up their phone to keep themselves amused. Although reading-themed apps are available, a realistic view would probably indicate the kids spent more time on YouTube and social media apps than doing something educational, even while in Zoom calls.
The importance of reading begins before kids are even old enough themselves to partake in the mind-stimulating activity. Parents are often instructed to read to their children because it helps stimulate the imagination, expand their vocabulary, and help language and listening skills develop at a young age.
Additionally, reading can help prepare children for different or tough experiences. For example, according to Rio Rancho Smiles, a family dentist in Rio Rancho, NM, if you’re bringing your child to the dentist, it’s important to prepare them for the experience and make them as comfortable as possible in advance.
One way to do this is by reading them books about going to the dentist and taking care of the teeth.
Reading to your kids tends to be extremely beneficial, but make sure they reciprocate the activity, and have them read to you as well. It’s a common technique to help them work on their vocabulary and make sure they are able to sound out unknown words. These steppingstones help form closer bonds between parents and children, along with a great activity away from TV and the Internet.
Not surprisingly, we’ve all become adapted to living in an increasingly digital world, where readily accessible Internet on everything from PCs and laptops to smartphones, tablets, and connected devices play an instrumental role in our day-to-day-lives. This is a double-edged sword; while we immerse ourselves with online content, less people tend to sit down and actually read a good book.
Unfortunately, this seems common with kids of all ages, as they are adept at using the Internet, but reading novels and other long-form material has become somewhat of a foreign activity. However, that must not be mistaken for the overall literacy rate, which is extremely high – literacy rate of both males and females at least 15 years of age is more than 86 percent worldwide, according to World Population Review.
As a child gets older, it becomes even more important to make sure they have a keen interest in reading as they enter school. There are numerous options available for parents, educators, and administrators, ranging from recommended reading lists to workbooks and activity guides. These materials are a great way to make sure students’ minds are engaged – and hopefully pique their interest in reading, writing, and other important lifelong skills.
Recommended reading lists are available for young children in elementary school, middle school, and teenagers in high school. Finding time to dive into a good book also is a great change of pace away from keeping their noses buried in textbooks, which tend to be instructional – and sometimes rather dry or uninteresting information.
Both reading and writing are critically important in helping children on the path to become successful students in high school and beyond. It’s unquestionable the importance of reading, which largely begins with parents helping their children read. Of course, reading doesn’t have to just be a chore that children dread, with plenty of fiction and non-fiction available to pique curiosity and stimulate interest.
Even with the pandemic easing slightly, and schools reopening, making sure kids enjoy reading is a never-ending goal that can be fostered for years to come. A bit of creative thinking and following online parenting guides should help craft methods to help accomplish this goal. Best of luck and remember the most important part: have fun with your kids!
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