In this age of tablets and smart phones, children's love for books is perhaps declining. I see children as young as two years old spending time on their parents' iPhones and Galaxy tablets. So people often think I am old-fashioned when I say that I don't allow my child to play with my electronic devices. What I have been trying to do since I became a mother is spark my daughter's interest in books.
Her grandmother bought her her first book, which was a big fat book of bedtime nursery rhymes. I read that book to her every day the first few months of her life. Then I grew tired and thought, why don't I just buy more books for her? In that way, I would not get bored of reading the same thing over and over again. My daughter now has about a dozen books. She knows her books so well that she can separate hers from mine. I don't know if she is a bookworm in the making but she sits with her books every day to flip their pages and look at the pictures that she likes. She makes us read to her every time she eats or drinks. We even carry her books with us when we go on vacation.
American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen time for babies under the age of two. Research has shown that a child's brain grows rapidly in the first two years of his life. What exposure to TV, tablets, computers, cell phones and other entertainment media does is prevent the normal development of this brain. A child learns best by interacting with other people, not with screens. Therefore, know that when you read to your child you are doing his/her growing brain a huge favor.
Even in older kids, too much screen time can interfere with reading, doing homework, playing with friends and spending time with family. Studies have also shown that children who have a lot of screen time tend to be overweight and obese.
After I read that a foetus can hear from 23 weeks onward, I began to read aloud to my unborn daughter. At that time, I would read anything to her -- a magazine article, a blog post from the Internet, a chapter from a favorite novel. In short, just about anything. Although an unborn baby cannot distinguish between words, doctors believe that the melody and rhythm of the mother's voice serve as the foundation for a baby's language. Besides, it also helps establish an auditory bond with the mother.
After my daughter was born, I would sit beside her rocker and read to her. My relatives would ask my mom why I was reading to a 2-week-old baby because after all, she did not understand anything. Some of my friends also asked me the same question. But today, when I look at my 15-month-old daughter, I see that she understands most of the things that we tell her. She can also utter more than 20 words. And she learned most of these words from the books that my husband and I read to her.
Bi-lingual kids are believed to be smarter than kids who speak just one language. I did not have Bengali books at home when my daughter was born in the USA so on my last Dhaka visit, I bought several children's Bengali books for her. So now, we read to her in both English and Bengali.
Why read to the baby?
Reading aloud to the baby builds his communication, listening, memory and vocabulary skills. It also introduces the baby to numbers, letters, colors, and shapes in a fun way. Last but not least, it gives the baby information about the world around him.
Instead of keeping the baby busy with a cell phone or tablet, consider sparking his/her interest in books. Choose age-appropriate books to read to them. When you will read to your baby, you will see that his/her face lights up in joy, for they not only love to hear your voice but also the physical intimacy that comes with it.
Future will always remain uncertain but as parents, we can at least try to raise our children in ways that will help them if they ever want to make a difference in the world.
By Wara Karim
January 7, 2014
The Daily Star link
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