Building Reading and Writing Culture in Lower Primary Children

This piece first featured on page 31of the Saturday Daily Nation of 28^th September, 2013 entitled “Encourage Children to Read”
Ardently and consistently reading most materials, I have come to realize that we rarely deal with the plight of children in society. Children book writers also need reliable market and audience for their work. Childhood can determine one’s profession or hobby in the future. Literary interest may take root while one is in Lower Primary school. Teachers and parents should encourage kids to read and write as well.

 

                           Young eyes at work

Lower primary children should be provided with writing and reading resources and techniques, including encouraging and tabling story telling sessions in daily school programs. Stories and tales might serve in widening children’s mental capability, thus influencing them to read and muster published stories such as why the hyena has spots etc before graduating to the likes of Mlilwa na ndege wa ajabu and The Beautiful Nyakio. The teacher may read for them, after appoint one at a time to read. Primary school library facilities across the country should have such books in stock. Children may even be assigned simple composition titles to work on such as “My best teacher”, “My favourite food etc.”

Minor things can have a profound effect on a child. For example, promising a pencil or confectionaries for a one who would read many books or answer a lot of questions in class and at home. Watching movies may be unadvisable. TV may always keep the child’s eyes glued to the screen, thus loosing reading appetite at such an early stage. Parents should, however, download literary online eBooks for their children.  Holding kids’ reading festivals can be of help. I must congratulate Storymoja for publishing the story hippo! Children’s series.  

© 2013 Peter Ngila