The country has been witnessing an educational crisis brought on by the pandemic. It has affected children’s reading habits to a great extent. Parents are also finding it difficult to make children read books. The educationists of Kindergarten block at St Joseph’s Sr Sec School Sector 44 D Chandigarh organised a ‘webinar for parents’ to help them with the tips and techniques as ‘How to cultivate reading habits in kids’.

The teachers highlighted different aspects of ‘Reading’, how to start it with young kids, its importance and the role of parents in inculcating reading habit in kids for future academic success. They suggested a variety of books by some famous children authors like Enid Blyton, Ronald Dahl, Julia Donaldson, Eric Carle, Stephen king etc. and guided them to choose the books according to the age and interest of the child. Parents were encouraged to give opportunity to kids to choose books themselves, spare time, sit and read with their children to develop interest in them.

Coordinator Shimmi Jassal guided them to begin with picture books at early stage, build phonic awareness, encourage them to read on sign boards while travelling, engage them in word games, read together and ask them their opinion about the story and so on to make reading fun and fascinating for little ones. She motivated parents to revive their own habit of reading books as to become a ‘role model’ for their kids.

She mentioned ‘DEAR’ philosophy crafted by the school Principal, that says ‘Drop Everything And Read’ as the benefits of Reading are endless. It broadens imagination, enriches vocabulary and improves thought process. Parents were all the praise about the webinar as it was a fulfilling and an eye-opener session for them.