Holidays provide ample time for children to explore new interests and pick up a hobby they enjoy. While you should encourage them to pursue their interests, do not forget to cultivate a specific skill in them ,i.e., reading. This may appear counterintuitive as it may feel like asking children to follow something that they are not deeply passionate about, but that isn't the case.
There are numerous benefits to being an avid reader such as reduced stress, optimized sleep cycle and overall mental health. Other tangible benefits are stronger thinking and communication skills, heightened focus and advanced writing skills and expanded vocabulary. Books help the reader escape reality temporarily by letting them stand in the shoes of the protagonists. This has a role to play in bringing down stress levels, which has a direct impact on the quality of sleep.
They also teach children many new words, thereby aiding them in refining their vocabulary. With mastery over several words, the quality of their writing also gets better, since they would be capable of describing the crux more succinctly and precisely. Having listed the benefits, let us go ahead and curate a top-notch list of books for children.
1. The Gutsy Girls of Science by Iliana Singh:
This book is a must-read for all children in the smaller grades, more so for young girls. It discusses the lives of 11 remarkable women in the field of science. The list includes meteorologist Anna Mani, botanist Janaki Ammal, mathematician Raman Parimala and cytogeneticist Archana Sharma. The book is a compilation of their stories narrated in the form of poems, anecdotes, fun facts and artworks. This is significant considering the small number of women working in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
2. How to live your life by Ruskin Bond:
Ruskin Bond is an author whose books can be enjoyed by the young and old alike. It contains anecdotes from his life, nature and celebrations and words of wisdom for youngsters. The book is the author’s take on life and he gives young ones great advice that they need to know at that particular age. The tone of the book makes it less of an instruction manual and more of a fun read for children.
3. I am so much more than the colour of my skin by Divya Thomas:
In a world that largely discriminates against people silently based on skin colour, empower your child with the understanding that the colour of their skin does not reflect their capabilities or achievements. Make them understand that it cannot come in the way of their ambition, whether they want to become an engineer, doctor, chef or writer. Encourage them to dream big and chase those dreams, instead of worrying over their skin colour, something that they have no control over.
4.Timeless Classics from Amar Chithra Katha:
ACK or Amar Chithra Katha as it is popularly known, is a renowned brand that publishes comic books depicting various stories from India. They facilitate in enhancing children’s knowledge of various aspects of Indian culture and history. The comic strip model makes it easy for them to consume the content easily and enjoy the process of reading. These books can also help them expand their vocabulary and think logically.
5. Malory Towers by Enid Blyton:
Malory Towers consists of a series of books that revolve around girls in the eponymous boarding school. It deals with themes of empowerment, independence and accountability. It also discusses self-reliance and encourages people to be independent and take on life. The tale also explores friendship in great detail, how it can influence one’s character and demonstrates the merit of loyalty in friendships.
6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle:
This book is targeted towards children who are yet to start school, but the message is universal. This graphic book chronicles the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Since the story discusses the evolution of the caterpillar through different stages, it will aid the child in grasping the concepts of progress and growth in life. Therefore, they can also read this book at multiple stages of their lives. Additional things that they will get to learn here are about various types of foods and hues, days of the week, principles of counting and size comparison wherein an object is smaller or larger relative to another object.
7. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott:
The story deals with four sisters, delving into their lives from childhood to adulthood. The theme centers on their conflict between personal growth and familial responsibilities. Key lessons from the book are how giving provides the giver happiness, looking beyond the superficial layer (be it a person or work), sticking to one’s strengths and not being dependent on anyone for support and entertainment.
8. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens:
This book is strongly recommended for children and some may even have studied excerpts in school. It describes the tale of an old miser named Ebenezer Scrooge who has visits from multiple ghosts - that of his previous business partner, Jacob Marley, ghosts of the Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come. He undergoes a change of heart and transforms into a considerate person.
Additionally, it illustrates the significance of listening and how it can transform your life, humility, dealing with regret, the power of forgiveness and how you can change at any point and start afresh.
When it comes to books, no list can ever be exhaustive and hence, consider this list as a starting point. Allow children to explore various titles and pick ones they enjoy. Encourage them to be regular at it, create a reading corner in the house. Watch for yourself how they embrace the hobby and grow into refined individuals.
