There was a time when letters used to travelaround the world under the wings of a pigeon.Letter bearers ran from pillar to post carrying notes from kingdom to kingdom. But time has changed the way things happen. From pigeon to post box and that wasn’t it. The shadow of technology has been cast and then came e-mails, SMS, MMS, what not! Of late, technology has been taking away the capacity to think from people. Laptops replaced books and files which in turn, were replaced by palm tops and ultra modern cellular phones. It is surprising to realise that we have lost the capacity to memorise a fistful of telephone numbers at a go after the cellular phones set of their reign over the world. And not to mention, many hobbies like reading and writing have started experiencing a faint pulse.

A person experiences the maximum of reading and writing abilities during the first quarter of his life that is, during his schooling and graduating years. After that, the knowledge one takes in after those years is limited. The memory is mesmerised by the technology to make some boundaries on the receiving end. The electronic media is adding fuel to the blazing death trapped memory instincts. Like say, television for example…. Just a boggling glare at the idiot box which sometimes carry you away day dreaming into starry tantrums, away from the light of reality. Nothing could overtake good old book reading, anytime, any day. A good book is said to be a good companion. A book takes you places, all around the world without even making a move from that corner desk of yours. Books open up with a wide range of avenues on offer. The variety of books offered in every genre give you a wide choice to pick from, depending on your interest wavelengths.

Tender minds can be nurtured and shaped up in many ways. But books and the printed word are among the best tools used for reaching out to a child. Despite the deep penetrating reach of the visual media,  books have a definite edge over other mediums of communication and entertainment. Child psychologists and counsellors have often stressed the importance of the reading habit in modern-day children.But then, it is quite pitiable that the book culture is on the decline. Parents need to help children revive this habit as it adds multiple dimensions to a child’s growth.As books are good portable friends, which have the potential of engaging a child’s mind, they can broaden the sphere of experience. A quick read of books like the age old classics transports the child to different horizons. A child can relate to new and thrilling experiences, quite different from everyday happenings. The variety in the book reading is bound to reflect in the child’s knowledge.

Reading sharpens the attitudes and the style of thinking of a child. It increases his or her attention span. It gives him the knack of thinking and understanding Language is a gift for a child and books give this gift in abundance. Reading a book aloud can be a good exercise not just for memorisation but also for improvement of speech and vocabulary. Books trigger a child’s imagination. Bedtime reading is considered the best quality time spent with a kid. Psychiatrists feel that bedtime reading helps to build strong bonding with the child.The printed word is not the sole reservoir of knowledge. Television, Internet and other modern audio-visual media also contribute to the child’s growth. However, reading should compliment other mediums. Otherwise, it leads to lopsided development.

Language is a gift for a child and books give this gift in abundance. Reading a book aloud can be a good exercise not just for memorisation but also for improvement of speech and vocabulary.
Books trigger a child’s imagination.Bedtime reading is considered the best quality time spent with a kid. Psychiatrists feel that bedtime reading helps to build strong bonding with the child.The printed word is not the sole reservoir of knowledge. Television, Internet and other modern audio-visual media also contribute to the child’s growth. However, reading should compliment other mediums. Otherwise, it leads to lopsided development.