A simple dream

A simple dream

 

I have a dream. For all kids to be able to read, and fall in love with reading.

In my own simplistic mind, if a child loves reading, you open up an infinite number of doors for them. You allow them to look beyond the horizon. You sow the first seed of learning in them.

In 2013, this simplistic mind of mine, decided to make things a little bit complex.  I dropped all that I have built the past 12 years in my corporate life, and decided to make this dream a reality.

 

Today in the wee hour of the morning, as I look through the various photos of our past workshops and activities, I can't help but smile.  Each and every picture bore a certain memory.

 

I can't help but develop this fuzzy feeling in my heart,

• Seeing children who couldn't sit still when a story is read aloud to them for even 1 minute, now sitting engaged for a full 20 minutes.
• Seeing children who resisted in even picking up a book, now going to a bookshelf and picking a story by themselves.
• Seeing our lesson plans that we've lovingly developed being executed with passion and being embraced by the children
• Seeing children growing up in front of our eyes. 
• Seeing children who were barely talking when they first came to us, now chattering endlessly, full of life
• Seeing children who were just toddling when we first met them, now running and jumping.
• Seeing how children who used to be strangers, parents who used to be strangers, bond over this common love for reading.
• Making many friends along the way, of various cultures, various races, and various nationalities; all bound together by that common love.

But that dream has yet to be realised . The simple mind STILL dreams of a day when all children will be able to read and to fall in love with it.

 

Whether or not this dream will be realised, I know not. But I have got to try.

The boy who DID not like to read

 

Warning : This post is a "rambling" by a mind who can't sleep...

This is the story of a boy who did not like to read.

I know of a small boy, a boisterous little fella who liked to run and jump; laugh heartily and ever generous with his smiles. He is a boy full of life. A boy who can make you tear your hair out, but at the same time one who can warm your heart so easily with his kind spontaneous acts and words; with his sudden hugs and kisses.

So you can just imagine how it was like to read aloud to this little fella. He seem to always have some sort of insect up his pants. He just couldn’t sit still. And I always wondered.. “Why oh why little fella can’t you sit still just for a few minutes, so I can read you a story proper. Just for a few minutes.”

I tried, I became stressed, I became agitated and then I gave up. Bam! Worst decision ever!

So when I tried to “teach” him reading, he HATED it. Finally it dawned on me… I had it all wrong with him. I tried to "teach" him reading. No doubt, reading can definitely be taught; but for a child to learn effectively, you first have to break down their barriers to learning. Reading should be something natural and not stressful. Something enjoyable. Then only can the love be planted, nurtured and blossom.

So I resumed reading aloud to the little fella. He still ran around. But I just kept on reading. But I knew he was actively listening, because at certain points he would stop, approach me and ask me questions about what I had just read.

It was a natural progression. It started with him being able to sit and listen for 2 minutes, then up to 5 minutes, to finally 30 minutes. We read 2 full chapters of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe together… Me, the little fella, my 3 year-old, and 8 year-old. All together on the bed as I read the book to them. It was a magical moment.

Getting him to learn reading then on became so much easier. From not being able to blend his letters well at the age of 5 still, to being able to read an entire book at the end of K1. Yes, a bit late for some parents maybe. But it was a great achievement for this little fella.

By the time he entered K2, he was able to read much better, and scoring in his spelling. And I breathed a huuuuuuuge sigh of relief. Phew! Really!

The sight of him on his bed now at night with a book in his hands and reading independently would never fail to leave a lump in my throat. Because he is no more the boy who does not like to read.

Just to share some tips on reading based on my own reading experience with my kids -

1. Never stop reading aloud to your children. Never!!

2. Pace the learning based on your child's pace. Different children develop at different stages, and they master reading at different stages. There will come a time when "Ting" it just happens (provided we continue reading and trying)

3.Never compare one child with another (In my case I compared him to his elder sister who started reading at 2. And as such added the unnecessary pressure on myself and indirectly onto the poor little fella). Do not be stressed, mummies and daddies! If you are stressed, this stress will emanate from you.

4. Choose a conducive environment to read, away from TV distractions, IPAD distractions etc. Then cuddle up and bond.

5. Make the reading experience a fun one. Its ok to be a child with your child sometimes, you know.
There are many more actually. But I think I will stop at 5 now, and save the next 5 for another rambling ;-)

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt"

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt,

We're Going to Catch a Big One,

What a Beautiful Day...

We're Not Scared..."

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" by Michael Rosen is one of my favouritest favouritest favouritest (yes, yes grammar teachers, I do know there is no such word as favouritest ;-P ) children's storybooks.

Let me list at least 5 reasons why?
1. The illustrations are beautiful
2. The words and rhythm of the story is catchy and easy for kids to grasp, understand
3. You can make a song out of it (who doesn't like a storybook with an accompanying tune to it right)
4. It is easy to dramatise with your kids
5. There are so many post-reading activities that you can cook up to reinforce the story

I was first introduced to this book when my first one was 1 year old (that makes it an 8 year old book in my library).  Since then I have been reading and re-reading this book to all my kids. 

I was so obsessed with reading the book... Hmmmm... let me see... no it wasn't me who was hooked onto the book.  It was my kids (Yes, Nora shift the blame onto the kids...wink* wink*) who were so obsessed with it.  They've had me read and re-read and re-read and re-read and re-read and re-read.... I can go on forever writing re-read, cos that was how frequent I have been re-reading to them. So I finally decided, that I am going to record my voice reading it.  Not with the intention that I would finally get a breather or a break from reading the book, cos I personally love reading it, but because I wanted my children to be able to listen to my voice and feel the comfort of listening to it when I am no longer around.  For them to look back when I have departed, and find a recording of their mummy's voice lovingly reading to them their favourite book.  For them to relive their childhood when they have grown and become parents of their own.

As you can see, I have said very little about the technicalities of this book, about the words used, its age appropriateness etc... Because this book is more than words to me and my kids.  It is an experience for me and my kids.  And that's why even if it were tattered and torn and worn out, I will mend it and ensure that it remains in my library for many more years to come.

So to end this blog... here's a video of the reading of "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hb-nTnriTP8

Enjoy!

A Baby on my Chest

Yesterday, a customer came into the shop with her 2-month old after having brought her child to the BabySpa just next door.

After chatting with me about books and parenthood, somehow she was confident enough to leave her baby with me while she went to the ladies (Seriously, it’s not easy going around by yourself with an infant, especially when you are on high tide).

So there I was with an infant, prematurely in my hands. Why prematurely? Cos mine will come only in a month’s time ;-)  It felt good to have her in my arms, to smell the scent of heaven from her soft hair.  She was sleepy and getting cranky, and so I had to find the most comfortable position to carry her, what with my bulging tummy and all.  I decided then, to sit in my magic armchair and lay her on my chest, with a book in my hands – “Guess how much I love you”, a classic authored by Sam McBratney (Yup, this book can be found in Playdate Books ;-))

 

As she laid there, contented, her eyes, slowly drooping shut, I read the book softly.  It was a beautiful moment for me, as it allowed me to relax after a hectic day at home and at the shop; and I hope for her too, as she dozes off to sleep against the backdrop of a soothing voice, assuring her that everything’s ok.

(nope that's not me... hehehe)

 

This moment was between a stranger, me, and a baby I hardly knew.  Can you imagine the feeling I would have felt, if that moment was between me and my very own child?  Can you imagine the bond that would have been forged, if this reading aloud “ritual” is practised with your child daily.

So, that night, I told myself, Nora, when baby is born you have to pick up this book again.  Lay your small infant on your chest and read to her.  Cuddle her… Sing to her… Love Her to the Moon and Back J

I'm Back!

Wow! What a long hiatus... And now I am back :-)

As I scan my old postings, I smile, I giggle, I cry at the memories that me and my 3 lil' ones have formed together... just through reading.

Many of my friends and my reflection in the mirror (yes I talk to myself in the mirror, and so I believe my reflection knows me best) know me as someone who is very enthusiastic and a wee bit eccentric, though also very cautious and risk averse.

I knew I loved books and reading.  But never never never ever in my wildest imagination did I envision myself to open my own bookshop nor to start a business revolving around reading. NEVER!

My obsession with reading aloud and its positive effects on developing readers started when my first born was a mere one year old, I think. I knew my daughter and I enjoyed our reading times together.  We bonded, we learnt and the bonus was when she started to read independently without any compulsion from me whatsoever at the age of 2.5 years old.

Then during one of the early childhood courses that I took up voluntarily (just to escape from the boredom of auditing in the corporate world), I picked up a book "Reading Magic - Why Reading Aloud to Our Children Will Change Their Lives Forever" by Mem Fox.  This book changed my life.  From that moment on, I decided that I would pursue literacy for young children on a more serious level.

But, I didn't know I was going to get this serious ;-)

And today I planted this determination in my heart, as I re-opened my blog, to truly pursue Playdate's mission - "To encourage reading and enhance literacy among children, by making reading an enjoyable experience." To ALL children, from ALL walks of life, from ALL types of backgrounds,

And of course, to ensure that my children, the very gems that I seek to protect, shine and polish, remain bonded with me through the seeking of the true knowledge.

Getting the Dad to Read

 

My husband is a reader. He reads tons of books and his books occupy one section of our home library for his books. However, he is not much of a read-aloud dad to the kids. That role, somehow has been left greatly to me, the mum.

However, those times when he does read-aloud to the kids, I could see how much the kids adore it. No doubt his style is different from mine (and me, being the expressive and drama queen sometimes find the style a tad monotonous), but the kids will still remain attached to him, listening to his every word. And better still, they would ask for another story to be read... And another... till bedtime which was supposed to be at 9pm ended up being at 10.30 or later.

Recently, a dad commented to me that he can't read to his child, and that he would bore his child with his reading. 

 But I beg to differ.It doesn't matter whether you are an expressive/dramatic reader, whether you stutter when you read, whether you read in a monotone... It doesn't matter to your child. What matters to your child is that you were there... Spending those few minutes, and putting aside all your other tasks and chores, to be with him, cuddle him close, answer his questions, and read to him.

So for my dearest husband who reads to our kids... Thanking you for reading to them!

And to other dads, who feel that you can't read... Don't worry, pick up a book, sit your child on your lap, and read to them. You'll get better at it, and very soon, reading to them would become a must-do activity for both dad and child.

Turtle, turtle, Watch Out by April Pulley Sayre

This was our bedtime story tonight.

When I first picked this book out, I wasn't expecting much from the kids, as the story is pretty long, and I thought hmmm... perhaps it'd be boring for them. But I went ahead to borrow it, as its content appealed to me as a parent.

Turtle's story "could be a short story - or no story at all - if not for helping hands." That's how the story begins, It tells o...f the many dangers that turtle faces in her life; and her life would have been short if not for all the help that she receives.

A great story for kids to learn about environmental conservation and the need to care for other creatures around us (in this case being the turtles).

What then became of my initial apprehension of it being too long a story... well my worry was completely unfounded. Even my 3 year old enjoyed it and hugged it to sleep; and my 8 year old who was dozing away (but with ears pricked up) woke up after the story to answer my questions.

Also, due to the repetition of the phrase "Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out!", my 3 and 5 year old now have another 3 more words added to their reading repertoire ;-)

For older children, there's even a section at the back which tells of the different species of turtles, which got my 8 year old all excited and determined to check out the website the next morning.

Good night everyone. Sweet dreams :-)