Developing a reading culture in our children

By Dickson Tumuramye

There's a saying that if you want to hide anything from an African, put it in writing. This indicates a general weakness in reading, especially with lengthy texts. Perhaps, it's due to the absence of a reading culture, where investing time in reading seems like a waste.

Traditionally, reading is often confined to academic pursuits, aimed at passing exams. We begin reading in school, focusing solely on achieving high marks. Another context for reading is to learn religious texts like the Bible or Quran, ensuring proficiency in case of a reading task.

Unfortunately, we neglect fostering a reading habit in our children outside the academic framework. Yet, reading contributes significantly to language skills, deep understanding, critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, time management, and intellectual development.

Initiate the habit of reading storybooks to your children from an early age. Instead of excessive screen time, allocate a few moments each day to read a page or a short story. In the absence of storybooks, the Bible offers numerous inspiring tales. Every chapter unfolds as a captivating story.

Create a schedule for your toddlers and be present. If one parent is occupied, the other should step in. If both are unavailable, train the child's caretaker to instill this noble habit. Soon, children will independently grasp the joy of reading. Once they comprehend on their own, provide picture storybooks to enhance their interpretation skills. Young children are drawn to visuals more than auditory stimuli.

For older children, identify books, magazines, or topics aligning with their interests and purchase relevant materials. Visit book stores or libraries together, allowing them to choose reading materials that captivate them. Often, we discover our preferences by exploring different authors, biographies, and book titles on the shelves.

Establish a modest home library, encouraging regular reading. Whenever you discover a compelling book, purchase and stock it. Libraries outside the home are valuable too. Take your children to such places, exposing them to diverse reading materials. Online libraries with free, quality content are readily available for their benefit.

Commitment and consistency are vital for developing a reading habit. Once ingrained, it becomes a valuable asset, countering the current trend of digital addiction. Children turn to electronic devices for lack of alternatives, finding solace in unfiltered content on social media. Reading, on the other hand, fosters substantial learning.

The current slower secondary curriculum, focusing on child-centered and competency-based education, necessitates our attention to fostering independent readers. We must shift our perspective, viewing reading as more than an academic tool for exam success.

Recognize the soft skills acquired through independent reading. Exposure to biographies of successful individuals can ignite ambition, inspire dreams, and shape future aspirations. A well-read child is better equipped to make informed decisions about their education and career path.

Encourage your children to embrace the art of reading independently. Initiate the journey by captivating them with literature matching their interests. As they engage with the new curriculum, the research-based reading component will undoubtedly enhance their performance in various life aspects.

The writer is the Executive Director of Hope Regeneration Africa, a parenting coach, marriage counselor, and founder of the Men of Purpose mentorship program.

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Dickson Tumuramye is also a passionate speaker on:

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