OUTLOOK — By Fatma Al Ismaili — There are some people who like reading as a habit, and some others who only read because they’re told to. There is another kind of person who wants to make reading a habit, but just can’t do it. Developing your reading will make you a true book lover.
The reading issue is not discussed a lot in our society although it is a very important topic that must get the attention of people and that must be addressed intensively. Even children are not given any attention in reading because of the accelerating rhythm of today’s life. This makes the children away from the traditional ways of getting information.
I was so happy when I entered a restaurant and saw a little girl holding her book and reading without even being disturbed by the noise around her.
I don’t know why we have this idea that the child must be from an environment that appreciates reading so that he/she loves reading. On the other hand they don’t consider his love for the electronic games in the same way although this love for games is aquired from parents out of their love for the electronic games.
In my society, it is totally unfamiliar to see a child reading in the public but it is completely common that children love electronic games and technology. The child who doesn’t love such things is considered not normal. The whole issue is about encouraging the child to be a reader or a hacker.
To make a child adore reading is not the mission of the family alone. The society needs to change its view on this issue. It was a striking move from the group, Reading Initiative, when they organised the campaign ‘My Book.. My Friend” that roamed over cities to encourage students to love reading. The campaign aimed to teach parents how to develop the love of reading in their children and how they could choose the appropriate books for their children according to their age.
Such meaningful issue must be adopted by the authorities concerned to compete with the electronic invasion that occupies the minds of our young people today.
