One of the best ways to improve your child's ability to learn and excel in school is to start reading aloud to her from a young age, even when she is still a baby. Studies show that children learn to read on their own more easily if they have been read to aloud at home. Kindergarten teachers can tell which of their students have been read to frequently at home because they are more eager to read and they find books enjoyable. If you make reading books fun, your child will probably get into the habit of reading on her own when she is older. Take at least 15 minutes of your time to read to your child age appropriate books daily. Many parents find bedtime a good time for this. Even if the children are older and can read on their own, parents are still recommended to engage in this special and quiet activity with their children. There are many benefits to reading to your children in addition to the pleasure and connection the two of you will feel. Children who are skillful readers perform better at school, have a vast vocabulary, and are more creative writers. The benefits of getting into a reading habit: u Setting a good example. By reading enthusiastically to your youngster you are her role model and will give her the desire to read and the love of books. u Improved attention span. Reading aloud and requesting a child to sit calmly until the story if finished is an excellent way to increase his attention span and improve concentration. These tools are necessary to succeed in school in all subjects. u Comprehension. Learning to listen properly helps young minds grasp information they hear from their teachers and mentors. u Vocabulary and more. The more they read, the more children's vocabulary will expand. They will also automatically develop an ear for how correct grammar is supposed to sound. Most good readers also turn out to spell correctly in their own writing. Children who read a lot acquire a vivid and active imagination and become more curious about the world around them. u Morals. If you choose the stories carefully books can help your child differentiate between right and wrong and show them how to solve some problems they may be facing. Books can reinforce the manners you are trying to instill in your child. Stories of the Prophets, peace be upon them, teach young children about patience, perseverance, honesty, bravery, and helping others. Jeddah residents have an excellent place for mothers and children to go to enjoy reading and listening to stories, which not many people know about. This unique place, My Library, is a private non-profit organization established by 9 active and hardworking women with a vision. My Library provides a cheerful, comfortable, and colorful atmosphere for moms and kids to share the joy of reading. The library is organized with a large number of books suitable for children of all ages, from infancy to college years. They have all the classic books with the characters that children love growing up with like Arthur, the Sesame Street gang, and Dr. Seuss books. Both Arabic and English books are available, and some are available in Spanish and French. Each mother and child will be issued a library card and can borrow up to 4 books each that must be returned in good shape within two weeks. The membership fees are very reasonable: 500 SR for the entire family per year, or 300 SR for 6 months, or 150 SR for 3 months. The library is open to readers and visitors from Saturday through Wednesday from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and again from 4:30 pm to 8 pm. On Thursdays they are open from 10:30 am to 3 pm. There are also daily story times at 11:30am and at 5:30 pm. At story time, the children gather together to listen to Arabic and English stories and an educational song read to them by the librarian. The library also offers weekly art classes for those interested. My Library is located on Rawdah Street (Prince Abdullah Street) above ‘Elegant Home Showroom'. For more information, call 263-1709.
