Read aloud to children to inculcate reading habit: Survey

New Delhi, Sep 5 (PTI) Reading aloud to children at anearly age helps in seeding in them a love for books and makesthem into avid readers, according to a new study. The survey by children’s publishing house Scholastic Indiawas conducted across the country among 1,752 parents andchildren from different age groups. According to the study, one of the most powerfulpredictors of reading frequency in children aged 6-17 years isbeing read to by parents 5-7 days a week. The reason cited wasthat that was a "special time with parents." "Across all ages, 85 per cent of children love being readto aloud, and among kids aged 6-11 years whose parents havestopped the practice, more than half, 57 per cent, wish theirparents had continued," it stated. The benefits of the practice, as observed by parents,include a rapid development in vocabulary and language skills. "The love of reading can transform a child’s prospects forsuccess and this report underscores the importance of readingfor pleasure while also providing insight into how we canencourage even more children to read more frequently," NeerajJain, Managing Director, Scholastic India said. Another major finding of the report reveals that childrenare more likely to read when they choose their own books. "86 per cent of children aged 6-17 years say that theirfavourite books are the ones that they have picked outthemselves and that they would read more if they could findmore books that they like," the study said. Pointing out the kind of content in books that arepreferred by children, it noted the a majority, 62 per cent,of them like to read books that make them laugh, 55 per centwant books that teach them something new, 45 per cent go forthose that let them use their imagination, 43 per cent want toread about characters they wish they could be like or amystery story and 33 per cent like to read about true stories. The study also sheds light on the burning debate of hardcopies of books versus e-books, revealing that the former is amore preferred option. It discusses how popularity of print copies remainsunchanged despite e-books becoming more accessible. "80 per cent of children aged 6-17 years agree they willalways want to read print books, even though there are e-booksavailable," it stated. PTI TRS BKTRS