Ways for Promoting Literacy and Love for Reading in Kids.

 Ways for Promoting Literacy and Love for Reading in Kids.

Are you a parent and you don't know how to promote literacy and love for reading? Has your child ever developed the  problem of reading ? Don't worry. 

Certainly, promoting literacy and love for reading in kids is a wonderful way to set and prepare them for lifetime of learning and enjoyment. I have prepared various tips that can help your kid to develop love for literacy and reading

1.Start early.

Begin to read to your child as early as from infant,even if the kid doesn't understand the wording,but they can enjoy the sounds and rhythms and tone of your voice. You may wonder how possible is that,but keep on reading for him or her. Just have a positive mind for your kid even if she has not developed fully. By doing so you create love for reading.

2. Create a Reading Routine.

Ensure that you stick to your reading schedule. You should have a daily reading routine such as bedtime stories,this will broaden your baby's mind and makes reading a habit.

3. Be a role model in reading

Children often emulate or copy their parents behavior. You should try and read books, magazines, newspapers infront of your children. They will be motivated and become eager to know how to read on those journals.

Don't ever deny the kid the chance even to look at the pictures inside the books or Newspaper,because if you rebuke them , they will develop negative attitudes towards reading 

4. Read A loud.

Ensure that you read a loud to your kids,even after they start reading on their own . Also allow them to read  loud so that they can have the following benefits:

• Helps in building vocabulary.
• Improves comprehension and active listening.
• Reduces stress and makes them happy.
• It improves working memory.

5. Build a Home Library

Ensure  that your home has a variety of age appropriate reading books.The library should contain books like Sound and Read,My first Book to Read,My first Sound to Read,from pre-school up to University levels. You can also take your kids to community libraries or the National Libraries to read more books.

6. Join a Reading Program.

As a parent you should search and know the community that have reading programs and events for kids. For example the kid can join various clubs for reading in the society . Even some churches have the the programs for children participating in the competition of reading from the scriptures. They are told to open a certain chapter and a verse and the first one to get is being rewarded. This will create curiosity for children to read more.

7. Ask Questions

Give the child time to read a book and then ask the questions. Either you can ask them to narrate what they have read,characters or their favourite parts. Through asking questions makes them to be more keen and develop more concentration when reading a certain story. It also helps them to comprehend and develop critical thinking.

8. Let them choose.

Allow your kid to choose or select books that interest them. Even if it's not what you would  like to choose, their enthusiasm for the topic is more important. Do not ever.111 discourage them for the books they have chosen. Just encourage them to read and contemplate what is in the book. Respect their reading choices,even if they want to reread the same books ,just allow them and don't be harsh to them.

9. Limit Screen Time

Most of the kids nowadays are fond of looking at the screen so much.They can mean to watch their favourite movies of various series, either of cartoons and forget to read. You should set strict rules and boundaries when to watch the screen. Be encouraging the kid to read by setting reasonable limits on screen time,so that they have time for books.

10. Make it Fun.

You should employ funny voices and be humorous and comedic. If it's a story of a dog and a cat,just where and be like a dog or a cat and start reading for them. They will never forget about the stories and they will develop the interest of reading the books.

12. Celebrate Achievements. Whenever a baby makes a milestone in reading books,just appreciate them. Give them appraisal awards even by congratulating them or even promise to buy them their favourite toys or items,this will accelerate their reading habits. Positive reinforcement encourages reading . Always avoid small criticism even if they haven't achieved what you needed. By supporting them and encouraging them,gives them hope to work hard.

13. Support their Curiosity.

Most of the kids are curious and they keep on discovering and asking new things about certain areas like .Why am I a boy or a girl,who is God and who created me.You can read for them books and explain to them so that they can easily understand. Take time to look for answers in the books and they will develop and will like reading.

14. Visit Author Events.

If possible look for the authors of the books or attend author's events or books signing to show the real people behind the stories.

Conclusion

Promoting literacy and love for reading starts with you as a parent. Always remember to encourage your child to read by building a home library, supporting their curiosity,reading in their presence. 

Remember to share,comment and like. You can also add some tips on building literacy and love for reading.

6 Factors promoting good relationship in the family

 

Most of the  families are living far and even meeting each other is a problem.  Due to modernity and economic problems, everyone is on his /her toes , moving up and down to see what the family will eat. 

Most of the families nowdays are not in good relationship to each other. They are not staying together as our great great grandparents did. The strong bondage that existed has become extinct and family gatherings are no longer conducted. It has become the world of various countries in it,that each country is struggling to regain her economy. This applies tho our homes today ,that everyone is in his/her toes or struggling to gain independence from the colonists.

Most of the family members are ever busy and due to poor economy, it has made them not to bother other families. People have migrated or rather have thrown away the responsibility of taking care 9f their fellow family members. They no longer communicate ,visit, perform ceremonies thus leading to breakage of family relation. 

You can refer to 8 Factors affecting family relation.

The following are the factors that can create,promote bondage or good family relation

1.Communication

Whenever, when there's good communication in every situation , that's the problem solver in any condition. Think of a situation where  there's no communication on the people who are living in the same house,in the same bedroom,the same bed or same apartment. What would be the consequences?. I think it would be a horrible place that one would not wish to stay or to live in.

Whenever people aren't living together,they should develop the heart of calling or communicating each other. Members of the family who aren't staying together,living much far,or others who are working or studying abroad,they should at least spare time to say hi to their fellow family members. 

Take a case whereby the father or the mother isn't staying together with the children almost 2 years,what would the children think of their parents? The children will eventually loose the direct child -parent love , because they no longer communicate or trust him /her as their parent.

A responsible parent should always try to communicate to the family no matter how you are committed. Try even to video call,zoom,Skype so that children can know you by face and they will feel comfortable when talking .

In extended family ,the members will also try to call each other to know the well being of others,how they wake in the morning,how their day ended,their health and other social factors affecting them. Most of the family members have neglected others because they prefer to be concerned about their intermediate members. If for example you call a sick person and you give him just hope that she/he will get well soon ,only those words can create good relationship and the person can always be appreciative.

Don't wait until something bad happens, that's when you remember that you had a relative. Just call in good and bad times to create strong bondage.

What type of communication to use?

You can use the calls through the phones,video calls on WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype,zoom and other gadgets.

How and when will you communicate?

You should always try to calendar yourself and communicate with your members,even if after one day,two days or every week if you are working or living abroad.

2 .Visitation.

Visitation is very important among family members. Most of the family members due to poor economy, family conflicts, despising each other,and other factors,it has cut short the visitation that our forefathers had. 

You find some of the family members ,they don't know each other since childhood. They can even pass by without noticing or recognizing one another. Most of the family members have divide and rule plus the cold war among themselves. They don't even allow their children to play with other children from the other family. Because the parents had a disagreement or a fight, they recommend their children not to go near or in any case they don't school together,because they believe in witchcraft.

The visitation which was long ago ,it has elapsed. I remember when I was young we could visit our cousins during the long holidays. We could enjoy playing together, eating together, sleeping ,going to church together and we could even tell others how best our village or school is. But nowdays, it's along story. 

Most of the paying a visit has become "hot Air".Where things are no longer working and become precipitated. Some families had the schedule of visiting each other monthly.

When it comes to visiting, the family members can know each other and can develop strong relationship. 

The following are importance of visitation.

• It provides an opportunity to stay in touch with other family members
• It help members to express their emotions.
• It helps people to discover the failures and weakness of others and try to advise them.
• It fosters family -family good relationships.
• It provides an opportunity to refresh and enjoy together as family members.

How often do you visit each other?

It may be monthly,annually or the family members can decide.

Can visitation bring any change among the family members?

Yes, because through visitation members can know each other and they can develop a strong family relationship.

3. Gathering in ceremony

When members of the family meet together, celebrate and hang out ,it really creates good family relationship. Most of the families gather together in a manner that they intend to know each other. When I was young ,I saw in our family we used to gather together either in December and we will slaughter a goat and we would share and enjoy together. All the family members from my mother's side would come even if they lived in urban areas. They would make sure that they attend the ceremony and nobody compromised.

Nowdays there are no more gatherings,because of the modernity. Some people are ever busy either in terms of jobs, schooling,staying far away from other family members (abroad) which makes the family members not to meet.

Some family members have opted not to gather or visit each during the long holidays like December to visit even their grandparents, cousins,aunties and uncles. I think if we live like in the old days the family gatherings will be more valuable to the family members.

Despite of the economy ,the education,living in towns or abroad or any conflicts among the family members, gatherings shouldn't be exceptional. Family members will sit down together and they will discuss various issues that would and develop the firm relationship

4 . Having chamas,self help group

Members in the family are supposed to have self-help groups, "chamas" that would enhance the family relationship. For example if they do merry go round and this can be done through online, physical and members can organise to visit each other in their homes.

The self help groups have always maintained the good family relationship. The members contribute the money and they decide on what to do with the money and this can make a person von toes to confirm from others ,thus good relation.

5 .Team work

Members who have good team for example when bereavement comes or in other functions maybe in times of sicknesses and sorrow it creates good family relationship.

Participating in providing moral support during sorrow, makes somebody to feel comforted. Or if one of the family member has a ceremony like a wedding, paying of dowry,lacks school fees or any other problem,members are supposed to chip in and stretch their helping hand.

6. Appreciation

Members in the family should try to appreciate each other . Whenever a person does good either in helping , academics,talents and any other good performance. If we appreciate each other moreso kids it will make them to be active and try to work hard thus promoting positive impacts in life.

Through all these we find the importance of good family relationship.

• It helps the family to resolve family conflicts easily.
• It helps people to express their feelings,emotions easily.
• It creates team work,good communication and appreciation.
• It makes persons to develop positive attitudes towards each other.

In conclusion , for good relationship can be of great importance if only members can have good team work , communication, gatherings and ceremonies that would bring people together.

If you find this article to be of great importance, please don't forget to comment,share or you can add more points on how to promote family relationship.