Teach children to be life-long readers - Ram

The Director of Raising Education Within Africa (REWA), Priyanka Handa Ram has pointed out that one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children is to teach them to be life-long readers.

“In this age of information, technology still relies on basic reading skills for access,” he said. Instead of treating it as a minor distraction as is the case in many households in Africa, Ram says it is up to parents, not schools, to find books and get children reading.

“The simple but powerful truth is that children learn by imitation, so if you show a keen interest in books and reading, they will soon learn that too,” she said. The South African based organization is hosting a series of Raising Readers workshops at the REWA Education Centre, aimed at giving parents and educators knowledge, skills and tools to help them get their children ready for reading, as well as to support children as they learn to read and write.

The workshops are set to explore the role of technology in early literacy development, the importance of reading aloud to children even long after they are in primary school, as well as to look at the tools used to develop comprehension and the value of playing literacy and language games. They feature reading toolboxes to transform emerging readers into independent readers as well as using a multi-sensory approach to foster firm reading foundations.

Another good reason to participate in the workshop, according to Ram, is to continue to practise the skills learned in school. “Yes, reading is a skill that needs to be practised just like a sport or a musical instrument. Without practice, the skill is actually lost,” she said.The parent and teacher trainings are offered by Remedial Therapist, pre-primary school teacher and founder of Raising Readers, Marian Bailey.