I would like to start this blog post with a topic that is very close to my heart: reading to children. On Thursday last week, we had the second visit from the Amanzimtoti municipal library staff (we’re hoping to make this a monthly event). They came to read to the children and tell them about the amazing wonder contained in books. I stood and watched the children who were completely enthralled by the story being told to them from the book Aunty Thando was reading. The children absolutely loved it. Children love being read to. Children NEED to be read to. It’s part of their growing-up process.

So, if you, as a parent or significant other, are not finding the time in your tiring and hectically busy day to read to your child, then I will go so far as to say that you are too busy. I am asking you, as the principal, to carve out a few minutes every day to read to your child. There is no other way to say this: children who read well do better at school than those who don’t. To help you, especially if your child is in Grade R, we will be posting simple English stories on our web site fairly regularly. You can download them and read them to your children directly from your phone. If you need technical assistance with downloading PDFs, ask Philip.

The Grade R children will also be taking printed copies home in their message books every week as part of their homework. You must read these books to your children and they must be able to talk about the story in Show & Tell and for testing. Ask your children simple questions about the story, about what’s going on. You’ll be surprised what they come out with. Let their imaginations run riot. There’s no right or wrong answers. Have fun while reading. It’s bonding time. Before you know it, they’ll be too big to sit on your lap.