Creating happy young readers

All parents have wonderful ambitions for their children. They want them to learn, to be full of self-esteem, to be successful, confident and most of all, happy. The world of books can open up all of the above.

As a storyteller in one of the largest local libraries in Malta, I am often asked, "How do you get a child to start reading?"

Sometimes it can be a bit frustrating. It seems that due to homework and other activities, there is never enough time to read.

But I tell every mother that she should never give up on a child even when that child seems to deplore the very idea of opening a book. If you happen to come across that special book on a subject in which your child has a keen interest, then your battle is half won. She will soon start reading every book on the subject.

Don`t worry if she reads only about that particular topic - as long as she is reading, that`s what`s important. If all she is doing is reading the words on a cereal box, that`s alright too. Maybe one suprising day, she will decide to graduate to a book!

Books are the secret of your child`s success in education. They provide knowledge for growing minds. They help boost children`s creativity by helping their imaginations grow.

Parents should do their utmost to help their children grow mentally to their highest potential. Children do much of their formal learning at school. Those who have a lot of support from their parents usually fulfil their potential.

So it is not your household chores that should be your priority, but the child you love and want to be the best that they can be.

When you help your child with reading the message is clear: reading books is important, useful and enjoyable. If your children see that you care about and are interested in books, then they will grow up sharing your enthusiasm.

The truth is that children who are not bought books, and who are not read to, are going to find it difficult to become good readers. Children need to recognise that books are an essential part of their lives - just as important as toys.

One day as I was strolling through an open air market, I overheard a child and her mother. The young girl was screaming her head off trying to convince her mother, who was busy talking to friends, to buy her a new book.

The mother`s response was absolutely incredible: "I bought you a chocolate, now that is more than enough for today." I wanted to go up to her and tell her that a book is not a luxury item.

She was lucky that her child craved a book.

Yet the mother`s message to her child was: "Books are not important." It was the exact opposite of what we should be teaching our children.

Children need experiences with books as early as possible in their lives. Even babies need to share books! It is never too early to start showing, reading and sharing books with your child.

After that, parents should never stop being interested in their child`s reading. Make the local library feel that it is their second home.

However, do not rely only on the library. You must make some books the child`s own property, to call their own.

As children get older they will increasingly want to read books for themselves. This, of course, should be encouraged. Do continue to buy them books, do carry on discussing the books, but also do make sure you still read to your child.

Unfortunately, there are still many Maltese households with not one book on their shelves. What is a house without books in it? The families in these households need to strengthen their belief in creativity, imagination and education - the keys to your child`s future happiness.

Ms Borg is a storyteller at the Mosta local library and a member of the Society for Children`s Books Writers and Illustrators of the USA. She recently published her first book for children, a bilingual picture book about birds, called "On a lonely Tree/Fuq Sigra Mwarrba".

How to help your child become a successful reader

1. Be a reader yourself
2. Share a book with your child every day
3. Let your children see you enjoying reading
4. Buy your child books frequently
5. Take your child to your local library
6. Make sharing books a pleasurable experience
7. If your local library has a storyteller hour, find the time to take your child.