In today's world of diverse entertainment options, children's literature, like many other traditional forms of entertainment for children, faces challenges in increasing its appeal and attractiveness to young readers while still conveying its messages and aesthetic and humanistic values intact.
Children who read less are exposed to more pitfalls.
One of the issues that many parents are concerned about and struggling to address is the low reading rate among young children. In the era of the 4.0 technological revolution, high-tech gadgets are naturally very attractive to young children. With a handheld electronic device such as a tablet, iPad, or smartphone, a child can sit all day playing games, ignoring everything else. This problem is not only common among city children but is also widespread in rural areas, due to the almost absolute allure of internet-connected electronic devices.
Therefore, books are not the first choice for many young children, especially during summer vacation. Author Nguyen Nhat Anh once stated: "In the current context, there are many attractive forms of entertainment. With the rapid development of technology and engineering, reading among children seems to be decreasing."
He also argued that contemporary writers must honestly accept the challenges and difficulties they face when confronted with other attractive forms of entertainment: "Unfortunately, we cannot fight against the development of society; we must adapt to it like living with a flood. Writers must live with these challenges to create even better works, especially works for children."
Associate Professor Pham Xuan Thach also emphasized the dangers of children being drawn to technological entertainment and distancing themselves from books: “Children today are constantly facing pitfalls. They now bear tremendous burdens both in their studies and in life. Therefore, children need friends, not teachers through books. They need companions who understand and respect them, and who see them as adults with whom they can confide and go through life's difficulties together.”
Poet Phan Thi Thanh Nhan also mentioned the difficulties children face today when confronting many dangers: “In the current social situation, there are many issues we can write about to educate children, because many children spend all day sitting in front of computers and phones, which contain many harmful things. We can educate them through engaging books, thereby changing their thinking about enjoying life – which is currently very negative in their minds.”
"Writing is like gardening."
Gardening requires not only soil, sunlight, and water, but also the care, attention, and meticulousness of the gardener. The same is true for writing. That's the perspective of writer Tran Thuy Duong. Writing for children is like tending a flower garden; it requires imagination, joy, and careful selection of words. Writing for young readers is like gardening, where we sow seeds of innocence, and that innocence will stay with them until they grow up, grow old, and pass it on to future generations.
Writer Tran Thuy Duong affirmed: "I believe there will also be literary works with plots that are both joyful and thought-provoking, where the author arranges language with meticulous care, and conveys beautiful meanings to spread good values, the values of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty in literature. Literature can become a spiritual friend for young children; when they encounter setbacks and difficulties in life, they will remember stories with characters who have experienced such hardships, and they will be uplifted and overcome them."
Poet Phan Thi Thanh Nhan, who won a children's poetry writing award with her work "Running Away" 40 years ago, shared her secret: "There's no secret at all, just the heart that wants to convey something to future generations. I find that when I love someone, I often write very beautiful love poems. I usually only write love poems, even poems about heartbreak, but when I really love children or my own children, I will pour my feelings into them."
Meanwhile, researcher Associate Professor Dr. Van Gia focuses on the issue of evoking emotions in children: “Today's society only focuses on children's intelligence quotient (IQ) and forgets that emotional intelligence (EQ) is also extremely important. Compassion, kindness, and love are incredibly important. I greatly appreciate works that nurture these feelings in children. This helps us become more civilized.”
Associate Professor, Dr. Van Gia believes that literature that incorporates emotional intelligence and compassion will instill in children love, kindness, and the ability to open their hearts to everything: “If we only focus on intelligence, it's not enough; we must also pay attention to emotions. Reading a literary work should evoke feelings. Children's literature today lacks this.”
Children's literature is currently receiving much attention from authors, publishers, and especially readers. Poet Tran Dang Khoa, Vice President of the Vietnam Writers Association, said that many competitions and campaigns for children's literature have been launched, such as those by Kim Dong Publishing House, the Sports and Culture Newspaper of the Vietnam News Agency with the Cricket Award, and the Vietnam Writers Association itself… Young readers are looking forward to the appearance of great works, full of humanistic values, Truth, Goodness, and Beauty, but still reflecting the spirit of the times, bringing inspiration, evoking beautiful emotions and love for life and people.
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