Why do most kids find reading dull, while they can stay hours glued to a screen without complaining? Not many parents have the answer to this difficult question, and they cannot be blamed, as today’s generation of kids is growing up in a world filled with attention-grabbing digital distractions. Due to this, making books seem exciting and appealing has become a real challenge. Most parents struggle and fail to engage their kids in reading, even though they understand the impact it has on a child’s overall development. There have not been many practical solutions that logically explain how to engage children in reading. I want to share my own life story, not as an expert, but as a 15-year-old who once felt the same boredom and burden many kids feel towards books. I didn’t suddenly fall in love with books right away on my own. It was my parents’ small efforts that paved the way and slowly drew me towards books. With time, reading became more than a habit; it became something I genuinely enjoyed, and it has shaped my mindset and the way I express myself ever since. I didn’t grow up speaking English as my first language, and to be honest, books never interested me at first, as they felt foreign and dull. They were nothing compared to the bright, buzzing screens around me that shouted at me for attention, offering distractions that felt way more interesting than the quiet little pages of a book. Yet somehow, my parents never gave up. They read to me and patiently nudged me towards books, even when I barely noticed them. Then came those nights that I will never forget. We would be tucked under blankets, the glow of the world fading away, while my dad would sit beside us with a book. Slowly, he would read us short fiction stories that seemed to come alive in the dim glow of the night, transporting us to another world filled with our imagination. We clung to every word, asking him silly questions about the characters and begging him to keep reading, page after page. With time, those quiet moments transformed reading from something I ignored to a habit I craved. The screens could offer bright colors and noise, but the stories offered imagination and wonder. Another meaningful way to engage a child in reading is by making it a part of their everyday life. However, they should not be forced; instead, they should be allowed to find their own way and genre of reading. I remember my mother taking me to the local library every weekend, letting me wander and grabbing any book that caught my attention. She never forced me to finish quickly or choose a specific genre. After I finished the book, we would discuss the characters together as if they were real people. In those little moments, I felt seen and valued, making reading a place of connection with the outside world. Over time, all these little efforts helped me a lot as I grew up. When I read, I feel understood and less alone, letting me escape from the burdens of the real world for an hour and wandering into a world filled with my creative imagination. It made me calmer and more confident in finding my own path and expressing my emotions. These were not just words on a page; it was an escape from the real world, even when I didn’t know I needed it. Reading helps a child understand and respond to situations rather than react to them. Through different characters, the child learns empathy and putting themselves in the other person’s shoes. Not only that, reading helps a child to communicate more confidently, whether it’s through writing or speaking; they eventually find their own path. It also makes a child disciplined and not be distracted easily, making them overcome problems and more prepared for real life out there. They become confident in who they are and gain self-esteem Emotionally, reading books also helps a child to explore their feelings without hesitation and through characters, a child faces many emotions such as sadness, joy, fear, and hope, making them recognize their own personalities and emotions in others. At the same time, reading also develops a sense of identity in a child, as when they notice the characters facing problems on their own and learning from their mistakes, they become confident and learn that growth is not possible without struggle, and their own parents won’t be around every time to help them overcome their challenges. Practically, reading strengthens language and knowledge as it improves communication skills, making the child more expressive and expanding their vocabulary. The most important fact is that reading teaches a child how to think, not what to think and why. This makes them independent and figure their life out on their own. In the end, reading helps a child to grow and develop in ways that are not always obvious right away. It takes time for a child to learn how they feel and how they view others. With time, books become quiet companions and motivators that guide their curiosity and emotions. Even when the story ends, the child starts to understand the big, real world around them and comes out of their little bubble. That’s why reading is not something to be forced on a child; it should become a habit that teaches them to become who they are and who they want to be. It does not shape their mind; it shapes their heart, and it stays with a child long after the book is closed…..
