Page 27 - IFV Jan Feb Issue 2025

Today’s Child

them to the library or a bookshop and
encourage them to browse and pick TO HELP YOU GET STARTED, HERE ARE SOME
what catches their eye – comics, animal RECOMMENDED BOOKS BROKEN DOWN BY
books, mysteries, anything that excites AGE GROUP:
them. The choice is theirs, and that
makes all the difference. For young children (ages 0-5):
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Use technology smartly • Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Technology can be a fantastic support • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
for children with reading challenges, • Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
such as dyslexia or ADHD. Audiobooks • Anything by Julia Donaldson
and interactive e-books provide access
to stories in a way that feels natural For foundation phase children (ages 6-9):
without putting pressure on traditional • The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
reading skills. For children with dyslexia, • The Twits by Roald Dahl
engaging with stories through these • George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
formats is not “cheating” – it’s a way to • The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
enjoy the richness of books without the • Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
struggle. Digital tools open reading,
making it enjoyable and achievable for For intermediate phase children (ages 10-13):
all children, so they can dive into stories • Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
and explore new worlds in their own • The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
way. • Matilda by Roald Dahl
• The Witches by Roald Dahl
Make time for reading without • Holes by Louis Sachar
screens
Setting aside time for reading without For teenagers (ages 13-18):
screens allows children to get into the • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
habit. This could be a family reading • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
time after dinner or a weekend hour • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
where everyone picks up a book. Little by Mark Haddon
by little, reading becomes part of their • 1984 by George Orwell
daily routine, and they’ll come to enjoy • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
this quiet time away from screens.

Celebrate little reading wins
Acknowledging progress helps children
see reading as something positive.
Simple celebrations, like chatting about
a story they enjoyed or planning a book-
themed activity, can make a big impact.
Even setting up a mini book club with
friends or family brings excitement to
reading and gives them something to
look forward to. Helping children love
reading is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Creating space for books in a world full
of screens helps them explore, imagine,
and grow. By making reading part of Photo by Catherine Hammond unsplash
family life, you’ll give them a love for
stories that’s always there, just waiting
to be enjoyed.

The Villager • Jan / Feb 2025 • 25