Written by: Bandana Jain, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
From book clubs and competitions to creative writing, here are tips for leading family members on a voyage of discovery through books. These ideas are in tandem with promoting reading in line with supporting society members as they choose to stay home and abide by the physical distancing policies in place due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
A well-organized and indexed library
A home library plays a vital role in bringing family and books together. Hence, it should be well-organized and indexed to provide all family members with easy access to knowledge. All members should be encouraged to enrich the library with new titles. An index, within a home library setting that classifies books by genre, will encourage family members to look for and pick up their favorite books easily.
Book clubs and competitions
The joy of reading does not end with turning the last page of a book. The love for the stories should be further enhanced through discussion. Creation of a ‘Family Book Club’ that encourages every member to read a chosen book and then discussing it together is a great idea. It is an inspiring way to encourage young kids to read independently, and to connect and bond over great books. Competitions amongst family members are also important tools to motivate the practice of reading, and to create a positive environment that enriches the reading experience.
Encourage role-playing
To further promote the reading habit, the inclusion of fun activities to go along with reading books. For instance, role-play of fictional characters is bound to increase the reader’s interaction with the content. An imaginative and creative interpretation of stories and novels through role-play has a key role in helping children understand the message of the story and nurtures their creativity at an early age.
Use a notebook
Get into the habit of taking notes and exchanging comments on the books you read. This is an effective way to expand knowledge, and share information and thoughts about that book with other readers, which may encourage them to want to read it.
Read different topics
Open your mind and expand your knowledge by reading up on different topics spanning culture, science, philosophy, history, and other disciplines. Reading is a journey of discovery that uncovers hidden treasures within the pages of books.
Encourage children to write
Children have tremendous inborn capabilities and potential, but how do you unleash this and
nurture their talents? You can do so by encouraging them to write stories on their own. This will improve their creative writing skills and enable them to turn more ideas into stories. Rewarding them for their efforts is an effective way to inspire children and motivate them to work to the best of their abilities.
Multi-volume book series
Boost a love of reading from an early age with engaging, educational stories that can be accessed through a range of multi-volume book series. These books often carry adventurous, entertaining stories with colorful illustrations that holds the interest of the young ones. Some books also contain hidden mysteries and treasures on every page, waiting to be discovered. Setting up a reading reward chart for every member of the family is an added motivational tool to cultivate a life-long love of reading.
Bandana Jain, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Bandana Jain is a Dubai based lifestyle and travel journalist for the past two decades. She’s also a passionate lifestyle blogger, photographer and loves pursuing modelling as a hobby. One of the aspects of her journalistic life that she thoroughly enjoys is rubbing shoulders with Bollywood celebrities. Having said this, her community journalist status ensures that she loves interacting with people from different strata of the society. She loves the limelight on stage sometimes as an anchor, whilst on other occasions as a public speaker. When she is not pursuing any of the above, you can find her shopping in Dubai’s famous malls or chilling by the beach with her favorite cup of tea. Travel is her passion, creativity her morale booster and enriching conversations are enough to give her the necessary thrust in life.
