Bumi Gemilang

Why is Reading Important?

Prof. A.C. Grayling, in a review of ‘A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel’ had said, “To read is to fly: it is to soar to a point of vantage which gives a view over wide terrains of history, human variety, ideas, shared experience and the fruits of many inquiries.” So true! Reading is really like taking a flight to great heights in pursuit of information and knowledge. It is a journey towards enlightenment.

Have you asked yourself why reading is important? What answer did you get? It must have been in favor of reading, I am sure. That’s because, even if you have read just one book in your life, you will know what reading gives. It gives you incomparable pleasure. Read one good book and you will know what the joys of reading are. Reading is like providing the mind with nourishment. Reading gives you both information and knowledge (and teaches you to distinguish between the two). You eat to keep your body fit and working, right? Then reading is food for your mind and soul. Reading informs you of what’s happening around, helps you remain updated about what’s changing and not just that. Reading encourages you to think and imagine, think out-of-the-box and imagine the impossibles. It’s through reading that you understand that knowledge knows no bounds and the hunger for it is insatiable.

During the olden times, reading was limited to just books, only books. Today, we have the Internet housing huge amounts of information, hosted on thousands of websites. We have books online and e-book readers that make reading them easy. The web, our new storehouse of information is just a click away. This in no way has stolen the magic of reading from books, the sound of their pages’ flutter and their smell… you can curl up with a book, but with an e-book reader or your computer? Possibly you can’t! Be it through any medium, reading is important.

We learn to read and write at a pretty early age. Our first ‘encounter’ with reading is probably when we are read out to, from story books… remember those bedtime stories? We begin learning the alphabet, the basic math, we read fun and fascinating facts about animals, plants and the universe. Textbooks accompany us all through the education; starting from school right through higher studies. We learn to read, then read to learn, and keep reading to keep learning, to gain knowledge and remain with the world. It’s only through reading that we gain exposure to information from different sources. The latest developments in technology, advancements in science, breakthroughs in various fields, the inventions and discoveries, product launches, movie reviews, celebrity gossip, changing political scenarios… just everything around us can become knowledge, only through reading.

Given that reading is the means to gain knowledge, it’s important to inculcate the habit of reading right from childhood. You know what role bedtime stories play in a child’s life? Research says that reading something just before going to bed helps the child feel secure and more comfortable while sleeping. So, get children into this habit of reading, bring them good books and help them understand the joys of reading. This habit will go a long way, in making them better individuals.

Children who grow up reading good books, definitely stand out. The way they think and act is way different from those who have never been exposed to reading. Reading not only adds to their general knowledge but also shapes their personalities. Reading has a great positive impact on one’s life. Reading good books is important during the formative years of a child’s development. It’s during childhood and teenage years that reading inspiring stories can have a deep impact on a child’s mind. If during these years of a child’s life, books become his companions, the child develops the hobby of reading and grows up to be more versatile than he would have without reading. Teenage is the phase when one is easily influenced by what he is exposed to. If inspirational stories and life experiences are read during these years, they can change a person for the better. They stay with him and keep encouraging him to achieve the ideal.

Reading is an activity that keeps us occupied. Reading is a fruitful use of time. It helps us get rid of our anxieties. It diverts our mind from monotony. Someone who loves to read, can never get bored, as reading a book is probably the best way to get rid of boredom. Books take you to an altogether new world, helping you relax and rejuvenate.

Books and the web are the richest sources of information. They cover a wide range of topics and store an enormous amount of information. So many websites dedicated to just information and innumerable books that flood libraries are testimony to the fact that knowledge is bountiful. Reading leads us only to read more in the never-ending pursuit of knowledge.

by Manali Oak.

Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/why-is-reading-important.html

Behavior Disorders in Children

Naughtiness and occasional refusal to listen to parents is something that is very commonly associated with childhood. This kind of behavior is attributed to a child’s inability to understand the repercussions of an inadequate action. However, as a child grows up, these problems are expected and they do get resolved. But not in every case. Some children display certain behavior that is quite contrary to what is expected of children of their age. This is a problem that many parents face and fail to resolve either with love or through strict behavior. With more and more research being done in this direction, it has become obvious that behavior disorders in children is more common than it was earlier thought. So are you wondering what are the common behavioral problems in young children? Let’s take a glance at a few of them.

Types of Behavioral Problems in Children

Below are given a few common behavioral disorders of childhood. What makes these disorders difficult to diagnose is that many of the symptoms are common. Nevertheless, if a child displays a few of the symptoms over quite some period of time and doesn’t seem amenable to any of the tactics that you as a parent resort to, then maybe you should consider one of the following behavior disorders in toddlers:

Oppositional Defiant Disorder
This disorder occurs in twice as often in boys than in girls and it is believed that almost 10% of children below 12 years of age suffer from oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). The common symptoms are:

• Short tempered and irritable
• Throwing temper tantrums frequently
• Arguing frequently with adults, more with those he is more familiar like parents
• Breaking rules
• Annoying adults deliberately
• Low self-esteem
• Blaming others for wrong actions

Conduct Disorder
Children with conduct disorders (CD) show no respect for rules. They are usually the ones that are branded as the ‘bad kids’. Children as young as 10 years old can also suffer from this children behavioral issue. Again boys show a greater tendency of suffering from CD than girls. This behavior problem in children can be identified by the following traits.

• Disregard for rules or authority
• Tendency of picking up physical fights and use of weapons in such fights
• Inclination towards getting addicted to drugs and alcohol at young age
• Cruelty towards animals
• Lack of empathy towards others
• Criminal behavior like stealing, hurting others, vandalism etc.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
As the name suggests, children suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have problem in maintaining an attention span long enough as children of their age are expected to. The attention deficit disorder symptoms are very common in children who do not suffer from this disorder as well. However, those who have this behavior disorder of childhood show these symptoms in greater severity. Again boys outnumber girls in being affected by this children behavior problem. Common traits are:

• Inattention: It is marked by short attention span, difficulty in listening to others and attending to details. These children are forgetful and easily distracted. They lack organizational and study skills generally expected of children of their age.
• Impulsive Behavior: Behavior of ADHD kids in the classroom is marked by inability to wait for their turn. They blurt out answers in class even when not asked to and often interrupt others.
• Hyperactivity: Such children find it difficult to sit in one place for long. They can’t be engaged in quiet activities. Even while sitting on their seats, such children keep fidgeting and seem restless.

Treatment

If behavior problems are not dealt with on time, then the problem may escalate and cause the child to develop a dysfunctional personality when he/she grows up. The treatment is multifaceted. While some medication may be prescribed by the physician to balance chemicals in the brain that would help overcome some children behavior disorders, training parents how to deal with children with behavioral problems is equally important.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, functional family therapy in which the whole family is taught how to treat such a child may be resorted to. However, parents have the most important role to play in helping their children deal with their disorder. Besides all the therapies and treatments, parents should use positive behavior modification techniques for children by encouraging them to change their behavior. Parents should be patient but firm in reinforcing correct behavior in their children. While looking for help to diagnose and treat behavior problems in children, parents should seek the help of a pediatrician, child psychologist and/or child psychiatrist.

by Debopriya Bose.

Read more @ http://www.buzzle.com/articles/behavior-disorders-in-children.html