Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Clinical Psychologist Duygu Barlas shared important advice for families on choosing books for children.
It is of great importance for parents to ask their children's opinions when choosing books and to put the books they want on their bookshelves. Experts point out that colorful and visually appealing books increase learning and book habits, while forcing a child to read a book he/she does not want to read may put him/her off reading. Experts recommend increasing the communication established with the child from birth from 6-7 months and starting to tell stories to children from the age of 3.
Üsküdar University NP Feneryolu Medical Center Clinical Psychologist Duygu Barlas shared important advice for families on choosing books for children.
Ask for opinions on book selection
First of all, parents should pay attention to ask their children's opinions when choosing books and to put the books they want in the library, said Clinical Psychologist Duygu Barlas, "Thus, the child will own their own library and will be more motivated to read books. Of course, a child between the ages of 0-6 may not be able to choose books as consciously as an adult, but giving them control over this issue is a factor that increases their motivation. Considering that children between the ages of 6-13 can now make more conscious choices, it is absolutely necessary to cooperate with the child on the decision."
Children should be asked for their opinion on book selection
Stating that it would be useful to observe the child before buying a book, Barlas said, "It would be a useful attitude to determine what the child is interested in and to choose books that have a subject within this framework. It is a known fact that a child who goes to a bookstore with his/her parents usually tends to buy books whose cover interests him/her. It would be much healthier to buy a book that the child likes and try it out than to buy a book that the parent finds useful but the child does not like. Trying to force the child to read a book that he/she does not like in a coercive way may cause him/her to cool down from books."
Books with lots of visuals attract children's attention
Stating that another point to be considered in book selection is to buy books supported with visual elements especially for a child in early childhood, Barlas said, "Children find books supported with visual elements more interesting and tend to read more. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that the content of the selected books meets the child's needs to know, understand, learn and develop his/her perspective on the world and his/her environment, as well as being entertaining rather than boring."
Colorful books help children develop reading habits
Barlas said, "When most children think of a book, they think of something written in small letters, thick and boring. A book should be entertaining as well as instructive and thought-provoking. It is scientifically proven that young children learn more from colorful and visually prominent books and gain reading habits."
From the age of 3, stories can be told
Clinical Psychologist Duygu Barlas said, "We now know that contributing to the development of the child is also possible during pregnancy" and concluded her words as follows:
"It can be said that mothers or fathers communicate with their babies by listening to music, singing songs, reading books aloud while the child is in the womb. This forms the cornerstone of the communication that the mother and father will establish with their babies. Talking, singing and calling to the baby after birth improves the baby's skills such as understanding, comprehension and learning, and is good for the baby's emotional needs. The baby learns the voice of the mother and the father, and especially by the age of 6 months, it enters a stage of full emotional sharing with its mother and father. The communication established with the child since birth should be increased from 6-7 months onwards and parents should talk to their child frequently. While this attitude strengthens the parent-child bond, it also contributes to the child's development of language skills. As the child reaches the age of 2, the child is asked questions, and in response to the answers, a bilateral communication is initiated. At the age of 3 and beyond, you can slowly start telling stories to the child."
