Hangzhou Zhejiang Education Guide 2019-2020

SCHOOL FEATURE
How to Encourage
Reading in a
Technological World
如 何 在 科 技 化 时 代 鼓 励 阅 读
A
café filled with people,
some in low conversation,
most glued to phones or
computers, various screens
dimly glow, reflected through
locked eyes. In this fairly
common modern-day scene,
I find something to always
be missing - the books. In a
technological age that values
innovation, instant gratification,
fast-paced consumption of
information, data and soundbytes,
cellphones over books
and STEM over social sciences,
it’s no surprise that reading,
literacy, and reading for pleasure
are declining in many countries.
Whilst everyone may have
their own opinion on whether
reading is vital, if all textbooks
should be shelved in favour of
online resources and interactive
whiteboards, or if you wouldn’t
mind our world one day
resembling Ray Bradbury’s,
Fahrenheit 451, reading is an
extremely important skill that
contributes to a successful future
and career. Furthermore, I believe
that with the many damaging
habits in the world, sitting down
after a long day, cracking open a
worn book, and delving into an
enchanting story is something
everybody in the world can
appreciate, most of all children.
Reading is a habit, a skill, and a
hobby. Developed in infancy, it’s
crucial to nurture interest from
a young age. Experts agree that
the younger the child is exposed
to books, the more likely reading
will become an ingrained aspect
of their life. In addition, not only
is reading a way to form lasting
bonds with your child, but it
is also a fun and healthy habit
demonstrated to have many
advantageous benefits. Reading
is proven to boost vocabulary,
concentration, comprehension,
language skills, empathy,
knowledge, and cognition,
which is probably why Richard
Steele famously said, “Reading
is to the mind what exercise is
to the body”. Moreover, research
conducted by the University of
Melbourne and the Victoria state
government concluded that
regardless of economic or social
background, reading to your
child six to seven times a week
has the same cognitive effect as
being almost 12 months older,
and in the future, these children
are shown to perform better on
school exams.
Books have their place, so
how do we encourage reading
in the modern, technological
world? There are many different
options, from using interactive
storybooks in infancy to
ensuring your home provides
a dedicated, comfortable
reading space throughout
adolescence. Finding the fine
balance between forcing your
48 Zhejiang Education Guide 2019-2020