How do we instill a love of
great literature in our
children, whether at home,
school or in church? Many of
us feel very burdened by the
declining desire in the
children of today to want to
read.
The Family Research Council
reports in one of its
excellent publications the
common denominator that
makes up an excellent school
is the level of involvement
of the parents. This
parental factor is reflected
also in a home environment
is conducive to learning.
This does not mean that the
parents have all the latest
technological equipment, but
rather, an attitude that
supports LEARNING AS A
LIFELONG JOURNEY.
As I visit schools, churches
and homes around the country
as a part of my speaking
ministry, I have observed
this same truth. Healthy
homes, schools and churches
that support and stimulate
excellence in education
provide a learning
environment that is
conducive to creating a
passion for learning. At the
core of this are the adults
who are committed to
spending time reading with
children and young people.
This passion for the written
word is very contagious. But
perhaps we feel a sense of
competition with the
television, computer
programs and videos of
today. These make it hard
for us to instill this love
of literature in our
children. We have to work at
carving out time to turn off
the telephone, computer, and
television and simply read
to and with our children.
It was my privilege to
attend the L’Abri Conference
in February. What a great
experience to ‘sit at the
feet’ of many great speakers
and learn about LITERATURE.
Their eloquent use of the
language, passion for
literature and of course,
that delightful English
accent made it a most
enjoyable experience. The
logo for the conference was
a women holding a child in
her lap and reading to the
child. Susan Schaeffer said
that “The love of literature
begins in a lap.” Here are a
few key points to remember:
-
Love of Literature is
first cultivated in the
home.
-
Literature begins in the
lap.
-
Literature 101: nursery
rhymes
-
Literature 201: Holy
Scriptures (C.S. Lewis
writes "That the Bible
is the golden strand of
the English language.")
-
Leisure is essential and
in this day and time,
this is a hard commodity
to come by. We have to
pray for it and
prioritize it!
-
Living books are what
Charlotte Mason talks
about in her writings.
For me personally, as a
mother, these are some
things that helped cultivate
the love of literature in my
children.
-
Read to and with them
daily. Use a variety
such as the scriptures,
a classical literature
book as well as simply
some fun books of their
choice that you check
out from the library.
-
Buy books for special
occasions such as:
devotional that is age
appropriate for each
Christmas a quality
classical hard bound
literature book for each
birthday.
-
Let your children see
you read. LOVERS OF
READING MAKE LIFE-LONG
READERS. It isn’t too
late to begin today!
