Why read the Harry Potter Series when you can watch the movies? Why read the holy scriptures when you can listen to its audio CD? We parents spend a bomb on Edutainment videos (entertainment that is intended to be educational) because learning is not only fun but also fast. Reading, on the other hand, demands time and effort. So, why bother with reading when there is an easier option available? Is reading really better than other audio/-visual medium?
The answer is YES, reading is better. New research shows that the brain is like a muscle. It gets stronger with exercise. Reading is more neurobiologically demanding than processing images or speech. When you read, you have more time to think and the brain neurons connect in a specific circuit that is challenging. Reading gives you a unique pause button for comprehension and insight. When you watch a film or listen to a tape—you don't press pause." [1]
1. Reading keeps the mind sharper: It is inevitable that the mind becomes sluggish as you grow old. However, a good reading habit can keep it alert. The subconscious effort that you take while reading keeps your mind sharper.
2. Conscious and consistent reading helps boost memory, build vocabulary and spell words correctly.
3. Reading improves focus: A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that watching videos as a toddler may lead to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in later life. In contrast to the way real life unfolds and is experienced by young children, the pace of TV is greatly sped up. The quick scene shifts of video images become normal to a child when in fact it most definitely not normal/natural. Exposing a baby’s developing brain to videos may overstimulate it, causing permanent changes in developing neural pathways [2]. Books, as stated earlier, stimulate the mind the right way thus improving your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading enhances imagination: When you read a story book, you end up creating an entire movie in your mind, appealing at all senses. Isn't that why people always say the book was better than the movie. No Oscar winning director can beat the cinema of your imagination.
5. Reading is refreshing: Watching hours and hours of TV can make you feel numb whereas reading for many hours does not fatigue you.
6. Reading helps you grow: You are transported to different geographies. You gain knowledge about different cultures. You relate to different perspectives and thus learn to empathise, which is a very essential characteristic to be a happy person. Meg Ryan in You’ve got Mail says, “When you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your life does.”
Now that we have seen some of the benefits of a reading habit, how do we encourage our children to read more? We all know that it is not a simple task. With easier and more exciting alternatives available, children resist the idea of reading. If we push them, they rebel. An avid reader myself, I struggled for a long time to get my son to enjoy reading. Now that he does, there is no stopping him. So, how do we help our kids enjoy reading to a point that it develops into a habit/hobby? For that, do check out my blog post '15 ideas to help your child develop a reading habit' :)
Reference:
[1] http://www.oprah.com/health/How-Reading-Can-Improve-Your-Memory#ixzz3zlX9bo5J
[2] http://www.whitedot.org/issue/iss_story.asp?slug=ADHD%20Toddlers
The answer is YES, reading is better. New research shows that the brain is like a muscle. It gets stronger with exercise. Reading is more neurobiologically demanding than processing images or speech. When you read, you have more time to think and the brain neurons connect in a specific circuit that is challenging. Reading gives you a unique pause button for comprehension and insight. When you watch a film or listen to a tape—you don't press pause." [1]
1. Reading keeps the mind sharper: It is inevitable that the mind becomes sluggish as you grow old. However, a good reading habit can keep it alert. The subconscious effort that you take while reading keeps your mind sharper.
2. Conscious and consistent reading helps boost memory, build vocabulary and spell words correctly.
3. Reading improves focus: A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that watching videos as a toddler may lead to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in later life. In contrast to the way real life unfolds and is experienced by young children, the pace of TV is greatly sped up. The quick scene shifts of video images become normal to a child when in fact it most definitely not normal/natural. Exposing a baby’s developing brain to videos may overstimulate it, causing permanent changes in developing neural pathways [2]. Books, as stated earlier, stimulate the mind the right way thus improving your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading enhances imagination: When you read a story book, you end up creating an entire movie in your mind, appealing at all senses. Isn't that why people always say the book was better than the movie. No Oscar winning director can beat the cinema of your imagination.
5. Reading is refreshing: Watching hours and hours of TV can make you feel numb whereas reading for many hours does not fatigue you.
6. Reading helps you grow: You are transported to different geographies. You gain knowledge about different cultures. You relate to different perspectives and thus learn to empathise, which is a very essential characteristic to be a happy person. Meg Ryan in You’ve got Mail says, “When you read a book as a child it becomes part of your identity in a way that no other reading in your life does.”
Now that we have seen some of the benefits of a reading habit, how do we encourage our children to read more? We all know that it is not a simple task. With easier and more exciting alternatives available, children resist the idea of reading. If we push them, they rebel. An avid reader myself, I struggled for a long time to get my son to enjoy reading. Now that he does, there is no stopping him. So, how do we help our kids enjoy reading to a point that it develops into a habit/hobby? For that, do check out my blog post '15 ideas to help your child develop a reading habit' :)
Reference:
[1] http://www.oprah.com/health/How-Reading-Can-Improve-Your-Memory#ixzz3zlX9bo5J
[2] http://www.whitedot.org/issue/iss_story.asp?slug=ADHD%20Toddlers
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