Get them hooked on books

For a start, children love stories. Even when they are too young to read on their own, parents can read to their children and spark their imagination and curiosity, and not just at bedtime! By sharing interesting plots and discussing the experiences of story characters, parents can motivate children to read on their own as they grow older and learn their ABCs and Chinese characters. Stories can also serve as positive influences, shaping how children behave and treat each other.

Reading together as a family can take place anywhere and anytime.

It helps if parents keep in touch with their children's progress in school, so that they can actively engage in complementary activities that help their children. Parents can also lead by example, demonstrating a keen interest and enjoyment in reading that their children will want to emulate. Beyond the home, parents can also bring their families to libraries or bookshops to browse and explore new and interesting books.

Learning to read and ride

In school, teachers do their best to foster the habit of reading, but parents have to reinforce the efforts to make reading an integral part of their children's lives. Parents could start off simply by assigning a fixed time each week for reading Chinese storybooks. With handphones, computers and TVs switched off, there are no distractions to detract from an hour of adventure in fiction and fantasy.

The family that reads together grows together.

It's just like learning how to ride a bicycle. It might seem hard at first, but with steady encouragement and the assurance that the parents are supporting his attempt, a child will find the momentum to move forward on his own.

Children who love to read will develop a greater capacity to learn and find delight in discovery. Good books are faithful companions and by reading with their children, parents are giving them a gift that will never run dry.

How do I choose supplementary reading materials for my child?

• Use your child's areas of interest as a guide, be it sports, art or animals; curiosity is the best "teacher".
• Choose books that feature vivid and interesting characters.
• Choose books with plots that children can identify with.

You can find a list of recommended Chinese supplementary readers for primary school on this MOE webpage:
http://www.moe.gov.sg/resources/files/chinese-supplementary-readers.pdf

Contributed by:
Mdm Loh Tiah Cheng
Senior Teacher

Mdm Wang Yanyan
Chinese Language Curriculum Planning Officer
MOE

做一个读书给孩子听的家长

美国诗人史斯克兰.吉利兰（Strickland Gillilan）在《阅读的妈妈》（The Reading Mother）这首诗里谈的其实不是富有，而是幸福。 对孩子而言，幸福不应仅仅是父母给他买好吃的东西、带他去好玩的地方。除了这些，幸福还应该包括阖家共读的美好画面，因为和父母一起阅读对促进家庭生活，培养有益终身的阅读习惯有着良好的作用。

Parents and children can have much fun reading together.

华文教学过去深受词语手册及课外作业的影响，学生一般没有时间也没有兴趣阅读华文课外读物。随着新课程的实施，学校推动广泛阅读的契机出现了。许多学校为了提升孩子阅读课外书的兴趣和能力，纷纷成立校园读书会，加大力度推展校本阅读以及与阅读有关的一系列活动。可喜的是，在老师的引导下，孩子渐渐对阅读华文故事书产生了兴趣。

除了学校，家庭是培养学生养成阅读习惯的另一个主要环境。保持和扩大学生的阅读兴趣需要家长的支持。家长不妨多关心孩子学校里的语文学习进度，以便积极配合。诚然，要孩子同时培养起阅读英文和华文故事书的兴趣和习惯并不容易，但家长还是得想方设法、细心地为孩子营造一个有利于双语学习的家庭环境，为孩子寻找双语学习的平衡点。

多数家长都懂得定期带孩子去图书馆或书局，让孩子借阅或购买他们感兴趣的书籍。然而，如果要帮助孩子养成阅读的习惯，家长在平时的生活中就必须以身作则，调整观念、树立榜样。只要家长喜欢阅读，孩子肯定会效仿大人，捧着书，坐在父母身旁津津有味地阅读。

Visiting bookstores or libraries to read with your child is good way to learn Chinese.

听故事也是一种阅读的方式。试问有那个孩子不喜欢听故事？当孩子年纪小，识字量不够，无法独立阅读时，家长可以和孩子一起共读。等到孩子大了，能独立阅读了，家长可以和孩子来个小竞赛，看谁读得多；或者和孩子分享书中的故事情节，与孩子一起讨论故事中人物的遭遇。通过阅读潜移默化地教育孩子如何处世待人，这肯定比单纯的说教来得有效。

阅读就像骑脚踏车一样，是需要练习的。学校老师为培养孩子的阅读兴趣尽心尽力，但是孩子日后能否养成长期的阅读习惯，正如孩子学会骑脚踏车后，是否会定期到公园骑脚踏车，享受骑车的乐趣，这也需要家长的坚持和努力。孩子一旦养成阅读的习惯，在人生的任何阶段，他们都能从阅读中汲取知识和力量，进而内化成宝贵的人生智慧。

家长可考虑从"三关一开"做起，为孩子营造一个舒适愉快的阅读环境。"三关"即关电视、关电脑、关手机；"一开"即打开书本。家长也不妨和孩子达成协议，选择每星期的一天为阅读华文故事书的时间。只要坚持下去，孩子会在不知不觉中，不仅培养了阅读习惯，而且会永远地真心喜欢阅读。

我们相信，喜欢阅读的孩子拥有一辈子的心灵财富。我们也愿意相信，有好书相伴的孩子,更能感悟生命的美丽。从今天开始吧，陪孩子一起阅读，和他们一起打造开启智慧宝库的钥匙。

如何为孩子选购课外书籍？

• 以孩子的兴趣为主，兴趣是最好的老师。
• 以生动有趣的人物形象为主。
• 以贴近孩子生活的故事为主。

教育部网站上载了一份"辅助阅读推荐书目2008"：http://www.moe.gov.sg/resources/files/chinese-supplementary-readers.pdf

书目是由各大出版社及在校积极推动阅读活动的教师所推荐，再由课程规划与发展司和华文课外读物理事会审批。

罗定贞（高级教师）
王燕燕（华文课程规划员）