Kids : Reading and Learning
Just like any other mommies, I try my best in teaching and encouraging my kids to grow and develop. Naturally.
And one of the things that I’d like them to slowly grow and love doing, is reading.
When one loves to read, I genuinely believe that he’s most likely into learning too. And when one has the heart to learn, there’s a chance for him to change, grow and develop the potentials God has given to him.
Now that Anya is 3 years old, I can see that she likes to read. When I have to breastfeed Vai and get him to nap for example, she can quietly grab a book and read it. She’d want us to read her a book first before she goes to bed. She LOVES going to the library too.
Right now, Vai being an 11-month-old baby, it’s rather too early to say if he’ll grow and have that same kind of passion.
Actually to be frank, I used to have a thought that even though I expose my two kids to books since very young, perhaps Vai won’t get to like reading that much.
You see, when he sees a children’s board book, he’d look at the picture for three seconds, grab it, shake it, put it in his mouth and bite its sides until bits of it literally end up in his mouth. Or, he’d grab and bang it against the wall. Or the floor, the chair, the toys, the table.
Since some two weeks ago however, there’s been a BIG change in him. He’d point at stuff and make noises. More like grunts, I think. It’s like he tries to speak the words but he just still can’t get it out of his throat.
And and, now he looks at books!
I mean, he’d flip it open, observe the pictures for a long time and make throaty sounds while pointing at the objects on the pages. And he can do this for quiet a long time.
I guess it’s because he’s now bigger and doesn’t put EVERYTHING into his mouth? Well, whatever it is (and even if later on he’s not into books as much as Anya – which is completely fine with us), I’m still very happy to see this development.
Ah. Frankly though, I have no idea how my two kids will turn out to be many years from now.
It’s not about whether they’ll be making lots of money when they start work though. Or whether they’ll marry, be rich and live in a mansion.
I’m more interested to see whether they’ll live responsibly. Whether they continue to learn, explore and maximise their God-given potentials. Whether their lives will glorify God their Creator and continue to be a blessing to many others.
[The true richness of one’s life is not – and should not be – measured by how much money and material security one has. A person is ‘rich’ when he gives and shares his life with others, even when it means he has to deny his own wants and live a simpler life]
All I know is that my time is limited and I can no longer be their ‘full-time teacher’ once they start school.
And one thing is for sure. As their Mommy, I will love, guide and teach them as best as I can, and I will learn to trust and leave the rest to God. The LORD in our family.
