“What did you give the kids?

by

Gerry Niskern

Do you remember when you were first learning to read? Were books fun or  boring?  If there had been computer games, waiting at home, what would you have headed for first?

I remember my first reader. I was so thrilled when the teacher said we could take our books home and read only the next five pages. I couldn’t stop. I raced through the whole book. I got into big trouble when I enthusiastically mentioned the ending the next day to my teacher. Fortunately, today’s teachers are more likely to encourage rather than discourage runaway readers. Most teachers push their students and have high expectations of them.

We hear a lot about kids being different today. They are no different now; they’re only responding to what they are offered. They also mimic what they see us doing.

Do you enthusiastically talk about your latest read? Do they hear you comparing notes or swapping volumes with friends?

To put it another way, do your kids or grandkids see you watching TV, at the computer playing games, or other electronic driven pastimes in your leisure? Another question, how many books did you buy for the young ones this past Christmas, on their birthday or just because?

Now answer this, how many electronic games did you buy?

While we’re having this pop quiz, did the baby receive tons of toys that come with computer chips inside where pushes a button to see it light up, talk or move?  How many books did he receive? Those early months are when they should be developing their love of pictures and later the written word. These books need to be available from birth. They come in cloth or with extra thick and can be read with you as soon as they can focus on the pictures.  The little one can touch it, feel it, even taste it if an overwhelming urge strikes him.  While you are reading, his imagination is being nurtured and feed. Everyone knows that children who are read to, usually become good readers.

I don’t know if you have noticed, but the toy stores have a very limited amount of books these days. Each child is unique, and some will actually choose a book over a toy if given a choice.   Do you alternate a trip to the toy store with a trip to the bookstore the next time? Children need to be guided in that direction if we want to have good readers. Their curiosity and imagination have to be constantly encouraged. What better way than to have a new book to read? The young reader’s fertile imagination can conjure up the appearance of all the characters in the book, and wonderful images will form in his mind as he reads.

More importantly, reading provides a quiet respite in hectic young lives. They need to get away from our frantic world and turn real pages. I’m sure everyone remembers a special teacher in school who read to the class for twenty minutes or so every day. A chapter a day; you could hardly wait. Let’s face it. Teachers haven’t changed as much as the world has changed. They still read to the students in the early grades, but it’s an electronically driven universe. It’s getting more and more difficult to keep children’s attention and create the excitement of a good book. Given a choice, most children will go for the electronic games. Why not, they’re fun.

At the last baby shower I attended I brought a little boxed set of Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I thought may her imagination carry her down to Plum Creek and out across the prairie as far as she cares to read. It’s a start!