Page 34 - Waterfall City Issue 3 March 2025

Waterfall City Today’s Child

or a bookshop and encourage them
to browse and pick what catches TO HELP YOU GET STARTED, HERE
their eye – comics, animal books, ARE SOME RECOMMENDED BOOKS
mysteries, anything that excites BROKEN DOWN BY 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 • Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
support for children with reading • Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne
challenges, such as dyslexia or • Anything by Julia Donaldson
ADHD. Audiobooks and interactive
e-books provide access to stories For foundation phase children (ages 6-9):
in a way that feels natural without • The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
putting pressure on traditional • The Twits by Roald Dahl
reading skills. For children with • George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl
dyslexia, engaging with stories • The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
through these formats is not • Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney
“cheating” – it’s a way to enjoy
the richness of books without the For intermediate phase children (ages 10-13):
struggle. Digital tools open reading, • Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
making it enjoyable and achievable • The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
for all children, so they can dive into • Matilda by Roald Dahl
stories and explore new worlds in • The Witches by Roald Dahl
their own way. • Holes by Louis Sachar

Make time for reading For teenagers (ages 13-18):
without screens • The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Setting aside time for reading • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
without screens allows children to • The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
get into the habit. This could be a by Mark Haddon
family reading time after dinner or a • 1984 by George Orwell
weekend hour where everyone picks • The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
up a book. Little by little, reading
becomes part of their daily routine,
and they’ll come to enjoy 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 PHOTO BY CATHERINE HAMMOND UNSPLASH
reading part of family life, you’ll give
them a love for stories that’s always
there, just waiting to be enjoyed.

32 Waterfall City Issue 3 2025