PICK ME UP!

My take is if you really want your child to do/ experience /read something, make it so readily accessible for them that they see it all around and because it’s there there, there are higher chances of them going for it! My big reference here is the oh so lovely habit of reading in kids, something which is slowly fading away. Since this happens to be a rather important element of vocabulary building, it needs to be reinforced time and again and somehow included in their daily routine list.

Summer break is a great time to reintroduce this habit( if it’s not already one) simply because there is a good bit of free time available . The long, hot and lazy days can be well spent with the many titles and authors they’ve heard of from their dear friends, their great breed of peers and of course our preferred authors can also be squeezed in . Once they are in sight, chances of they going through them may be higher. Basically, if they see the good old Enid Blytons, Hardy boys , Malory towers etc. on their shelves, they are likely to pick them up! The neighbourhood library does serve the purpose but to stock up on ones own page turners is a wonderful feeling. The ownership of any thing gives one a far bigger high than borrowed stuff, more so if the titles are to be read and re read many times over.

Summer holidays are also the time to pull out all those hidden card games, those scrap books, the half done needlework, those cut and paint and make your own chimes, fridge magnets, bead jewellery etc etc. The minute these objects are seen, the activity triggers reignite and holidays are well spent, both in terms of time and pleasure! It’s easy accessibility that drives the kids. Out of sight is truly out of mind for them. So, while I have things strewn around everywhere, I look at it as time and imagination well spent. It is messy and scattered, but am ok with it as long as the neatly tucked away stuff is put to use. The slow and easy days seem lighter and calmer and with kids around at home during their break, one really couldn’t ask for anything more!!