Fostering a reading culture starts in every family.

In the context of today's rapid digital transformation, the reading habits of many people, especially young people, are undergoing significant changes. Access to knowledge is no longer limited to traditional printed books but also extends to electronic devices and the digital environment. However, the information available online is increasingly abundant and diverse, encompassing both positive and negative content, requiring readers to possess the skills to select and filter information accurately. In this context, the role of the family in shaping reading habits and selecting appropriate content for acquiring knowledge is becoming increasingly important.

Cultivating a reading habit from the family bookshelf is an effective and practical way to "plant the seeds" of self-learning. Photo: Tran Giang

Over the years, Ninh Binh province has focused on implementing many activities to develop reading culture, such as organizing Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day; launching the "Reading Culture Ambassador" competition; and promoting the circulation of books, newspapers, and documents to grassroots levels, bringing books and knowledge closer to the people. In many localities in the province, models of learning families linked to the development of reading culture at the grassroots level have begun to be formed. Although grassroots cultural institutions have played a role in developing reading culture, forming reading habits within each family remains fundamental and plays a crucial role in guiding children's access to knowledge from an early age.

In reality, many families today have not given enough attention to fostering reading habits in children. Many young children are exposed to smart electronic devices (phones, tablets, etc.) from an early age, primarily for entertainment, while the selection of appropriate reading materials, both in print and digital, is often neglected. Reading spaces and habits within families are limited, and reading has not become a regular part of daily life. Many parents are busy with work and therefore cannot maintain a reading habit with their children. This indicates that the formation of a reading environment and habit within families still falls short of the demands of the current situation.

The family is the first and most important educational environment for forming reading habits and guiding children's approach to knowledge. A child who is regularly shared the content of good books by their parents and encouraged to explore knowledge from various sources will naturally develop a love of books, while simultaneously developing their thinking, language, and communication skills.

Building a reading culture within the family doesn't require grand gestures; it starts with concrete actions such as creating a suitable reading space at home; selecting books (both print and e-books) appropriate for the child's age; and maintaining regular reading time as part of family life.

Furthermore, the role of parents as role models is especially important; parents who maintain a reading habit will inspire their children to love books. This also contributes to building a learning environment in each family, helping reading gradually become a self-driven need for family members, thereby forming a positive reading habit and creating a foundation for building a sustainable reading culture.

Along with the proactive efforts of each family, provincial authorities and departments continue to focus on developing the grassroots library system, improving the effectiveness of village and hamlet book collections; expanding mobile library services, and creating conditions for people, especially children in rural areas, to access knowledge more easily. Schools also need to strengthen coordination with families in guiding reading skills, organizing thematic reading activities, and contributing to consolidating and spreading reading habits from families to the community.

Furthermore, the movement to build a learning society in the province continues to be widely implemented through models of learning families, learning clans, and learning communities, thereby creating conditions for reading and self-learning to become a regular need in each family, contributing to building a sustainable reading culture in society.

Developing a reading culture is a long journey that requires the joint efforts of the entire society; in which each family is the most important "nucleus". When the habit and environment of reading are formed in every home, a reading culture will spread sustainably in the community, contributing to raising the intellectual level of the people, building a learning society, and creating an important foundation for the development of human resources in the province in the current period.

Dieu Linh

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/hinh-thanh-van-hoa-doc-tu-moi-gia-dinh-260417145359579.html