JOIN USFUNdamental Reading Skills’, a fun session conducted by Rani Rao Innes at the British Library recently, saw many children between the ages of six and nine interacting with each other and listening to stories.
The session had been organised to instil the habit of reading among children.
The interactive workshop not only motivated the children to read, but also taught them to have fun while doing so.
It helped them identify the skills required for different types of reading, understand the attributes of a good reader, appreciate and analyse classic novels and poems and even write a story or a poem on their own.
Rani Rao Innes encouraged the children to treat books like their pets and asked parents to urge their kids to read books rather than be hooked to the television.
“It is important that parents negotiate with their children, rather than nag or scold them when they are watching television. If you nag your children, they will tend to rebel and not listen to you.
It is better to strike a deal with them instead. Books can be the best pets and children can be different characters in their imagination. I am very concerned about the deteriorating rate of children reading books,” says Rani.
The children who attended the workshop were thrilled to make new friends and listen to the fairy tales narrated during the session.
Rahul, who came for the event with his six-year-old, was elated to see his child enjoy the stories.
“He reads a lot for his age. The workshop will help him enjoy reading even further and channelise his imagination in the right direction. I am sure all parents are fed up of seeing their children glued to the television. I hope that this workshop helps children get rid of such habits,” he says.
Rani explains that the current education system is such that children don’t use the right side of the brain much.
“The right side of the brain helps the child to be imaginative, while the left side helps in analysing information. I would advise teachers to help children in developing the right side of the brain so they can retain better,” she says.
Ananya, a nine-year-old who enjoyed the session, says, “I loved the stories that were told to us. We were made to act out the characters. It was a lot of fun.”