Reading, a way of life: Instilling Reading habit in your Children

“To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.”

— Victor Hugo, French Writer

Reading is a very essential habit, culture, and a way of life that every parent must cultivate in their children. “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body” is a famous quote by the English playwright Joseph Addison.

Reading not only refreshes the mind and keeps it active, but also helps children see a new world, sharpens their insights about things around them, and nurtures curiosity to keep them learning and growing.

Whatever their age might be, whatever their personal interests or skills might be, instilling the love for reading in them is an important responsibility of a parent.

This article does not intend to say that kids these days do not learn. They, in fact, learn more since technology is easily accessible. But “Do their reading patterns show a change?” is an important question to ponder upon.

Do they really need to make reading a habit? If yes, then how are we as parents going to deal with it?

While social media has become the primary source of information for new-age kids, it has widened their spectrum of knowledge. Without denying the significance of this process of modern knowledge accumulation, one also has to look at the negative side of it to understand how it has deviated from the traditional system of learning.

As we all know, information is capsuled into short tidbits and served through social media. Kids become accustomed to knowing things in a superficial way, which in turn affects their critical thinking and analytical skills.

They grow up anxious and restless, making them devoid of consistent research behaviour. When they are made to believe that information is just a “finger-tap” away, their perseverance and curiosity to build knowledge gradually fade away.

On the other hand, when reading becomes a habit (other than simply browsing or skimming online), it has a vital effect on the child’s behaviour.

Reading develops the child’s mind and ability to imagine and create. It instils curiosity in young minds. When we are into a book, we imagine characters, places, and the hidden meanings behind phrases.

We step into the shoes of the author or critically evaluate what the author may have intended. Since reading helps children understand what someone else is communicating, they eventually become better listeners too — something many children today struggle with.

Reading also enhances empathy toward others. When reading becomes a consistent habit, the child’s concentration power improves significantly.

The child slowly realizes that knowledge accumulation and creation are much more than simple information gathering — they require commitment, patience, and effort.